SHE says she has killed three men - two pimps and an alleged robber. She snapped their necks.

The 41-year-old sex worker, who did not wish to be named, admits that at least one of the incidents was "self-defence".

The woman, who has a black belt in karate told the Sunday Observer that she has been a prostitute for about two decades.

According to her, the fighting skills she attained have come in handy on countless occasions as she has had to defend herself against attackers and "persons trying to take advantage of me".

"I had to kill two pimps who mess with me and my money when I was working in the US. I broke their necks and ran away," she told the Sunday Observer.

"When I returned to Jamaica four years ago, I was working on a street corner in downtown, Kingston and a young fellow tried to rob me by grabbing my bag, so I hold him and break his neck too. The police came afterwards, but I didn't get in any trouble because it was self-defence," she said, very matter-of-factly.

Checks with the Central Kingston Police to prove the veracity of her tale were unsuccessful as the officers said they could find no record of the incident.

When the Sunday Observer encountered her two weeks ago, she was awaiting 'customers' in New Kingston. During a 20-minute interview by the street side, she recounted her life story for the Sunday Observer in chilling details - touching on the childhood abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather, running away from home in Kingston at age 15; hooking up with a pimp by age 20 and travelling the country and the region, selling her body for years to come.

She says she has to sell her body to support herself and survive.

"It's been the only thing I could ever really depend on to get money to take care of myself. I love sex and I love getting paid for it," she said in a thick American accent.

She was dressed in a revealing black blouse, a pair of purple tights and expensive-looking satin pumps. Her lips are rose red, her make-up is flawless and her cream-milk complexion appears to glow on the dimly-lit street.

"It's been over 20 years now, and I still enjoy the experience. I have not only worked in Jamaica. I have worked in St Kitts, Trinidad and in the US, where the money is very good," she confides.

Her colourful story also includes stints off the street - at a time when she was encouraged by acquaintances and well-wishers to turn over a new leaf.

"A friend I knew back in the day took me off the road for me to start my life over when I was about 30 or so. I tried it for a while but I was miserable because things weren't going my way. No proper living and working arrangements had been made for me, so I just decided to come back out on the streets where I know money is guaranteed to at least buy some food," she said, her eyes watching the cars which slowly drove by.

But she is quick to point out that these days, 'business' is slow in New Kingston.

"It's not good. It's very poco-poco. The men are not coming out like they used to," she told the Sunday Observer. "Nowadays, I mostly get older men for customers, and only a few young men. It's not good at all."

Despite the dangers she has encountered in the past and her personal struggles, she says she doesn't see an end to her 'career' anytime soon, even as her 42nd birthday draws closer.

"As long as I have this body and men want me, I will continue what I am doing. I don't have another job. I don't have a man to support me. This is all I have. This is who I am. This is me."