A council has won a ban preventing a prostitute from entering a red light district where she has been a 'nuisance' for seven years.

Vanessa Bex faces five years' imprisonment if she steps into many parts of Camden and Islington in north London.

Camden Council has been granted an anti-social behaviour order against Bex, lasting four years.

The ban, the first secured by the council against a prostitute, was issued at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court.

Drug abuse

The 34-year-old is from Hillingdon, west London.

Bex, who has more than 100 convictions, mainly for prostitution, is prevented from entering the King's Cross red light district.

She is also banned from the neighbouring areas of Finsbury, Clerkenwell, Copenhagen and Thornhill.

She is a known drug user and is not allowed to associate with 20 known drug addicts who frequent King's Cross.

Anti-social behaviour

Following the hearing a council spokesman said Bex had been a "general nuisance" since about 1995.

He added: "We take quite a strong line on this.

"We feel that we might be able to get rid of other people who have similar anti-social habits.

"They might now not come into King's Cross."

Camden has been granted 11 anti-social behaviour orders and has another 20 due for processing.