Sudbury prostitutes use sex trade to 'survive'

An outreach worker in Sudbury says men in the city are paying to have sex with young women who are barely in their teens.

Christine Schmidt was one of 20 people from various community groups who gathered yesterday to talk about Sudbury's prostitution problem.

She said there are men who are "willing to pay a girl who is 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and often times in a really exploitative conditions."

Schmidt added that most street-level prostitutes in Sudbury are in the business to survive and will tolerate abuse from Johns.

"We know that [the Johns] will drive them out of town and force them into really cold weather and try and negotiate sex without a condom," she said.

But it's not just the Johns who can be abusive.

'I would suggest ... some of the women are beaten.' Vicki Kett, Rseau Access Network

Vicki Kett, who is with Rseau Access Network, said sometimes men who want money for drugs will force their girlfriends to sell sex.

"He'll send her out on the street or he will go and drive her to prime locations and sit back and watch," Kett said. "And if the money doesn't come in I would suggest, then, some of the women are beaten."

Police said they are communicating more with the prostitutes and continue to investigate any reports of abuse.

The multi-agency committee plans to meet again to continue to address these issues.