The first person to be arrested under new laws aimed at stopping the spread of prostitutes' cards in phone boxes appeared in court yesterday.

Michael Elleray, 28, of Grand Parade, Brighton, admitted placing an advert relating to prostitution in a call box in the city centre when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court yesterday.

Elleray was fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

The court heard Chief Inspector Stuart Harrison, of Hove police, was travelling on a bus in North Street on September 12 when he saw Elleray placing the cards in a phone box.

Elleray told him he did not know he was committing an offence and said he was paid £30 by prostitutes for doing the job.

Duncan Cooke, defending, said: "He has done it before in full view of police officers and has not been arrested. He has been caught out by a change in the legislation."

District Judge James Shrimpton told Elleray the offence was viewed seriously by the court.

He said: "It is treated quite seriously because children and other people see these dreadful pictures."

Elleray, unemployed, is believed to be the first person arrested under new powers in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which came into force last month.

Previously, people caught by police sticking cards in phone boxes have been prosecuted by Brighton and Hove City Council for displaying adverts without consent.

Two women, who are believed to be the second and third people arrested under the new legislation, also appeared at the law courts.

Emma Parkes, 29, of Phoenix Rise, Brighton, and Lesley Moore, 37, of Tichbourne Street, Brighton, denied a charge of placing an advert relating to prostitution in a telephone box in Hove on October 17.

They were bailed until November 13.