A young prostitute was stabbed after cash she handed over for drugs was stolen by another young woman, a court heard.

Twenty-year old Charlotte Shilleto lashed out with a knife she had collected from a friend’s flat following the earlier violence.

Now Shilleto has been warned to expect a “substantial” jail sentence after being convicted of wounding with intent.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Debbie Sutcliffe was “working” in the red light area of New Road, Chatham, on December 22 last year.

Tim Clarke, prosecuting, said after midnight there was “a violent falling out”.

Miss Sutcliffe, also 20, said she had smoked crack cocaine because it gave her the confidence to work as a call girl.

She was in Ordnance Street when she went up to the car to buy more drugs. She put her head through a car window to pay £30 for the cocaine and Shilleto snatched her money.

“She tried to get out of the car,” said Miss Sutcliffe.

“I wouldn’t let her, because I tried to get my money back. She punched me. When she got out, I blocked her.

“We started fighting. Punches were thrown. She tried to bite me on my hand. I didn’t have any weapons. Charlotte said she had a knife and was going to stab me."

Adjourning sentence until Thursday, May 8, Judge Philip Statman told Shilleto he had act to protect the public. He said: “You must understand that in the circumstances you are now in, you are facing a very substantial custodial sentence.”

For full story see Monday's print edition of the Medway Messenger.