It’s not unusual to bump into customers in Sainsbury’s’Claire Finch The GuardianMost people would think where I live is the last place you’d expect to find a brothel or massage parlour: a pretty bungalow in a quiet cul-de-sac of a sleepy Bedfordshire village. But I’ve run one from my home for the last 12 years, offering massage and […]
By Andy McFarlanePolice searches evoked memories of the Yorkshire Ripper murdersThe discovery of the remains of a woman – sparking police searches in Bradford’s red light district – has brought back chilling memories of the 1970s.Back then, it took six years to find and convict Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, for killing 13 women – […]
A man has been charged with the murder of three women in Bradford. When will sex workers’ safety be prioritised? The discovery of a woman’s body, now confirmed to be that of Suzanne Blamires, has focussed press attention on the disappearances of three women in Bradford. Stephen Griffiths has been charged with their murder. Our […]
SAN FRANCISCO — Starchild, a self-described sex worker and a candidate for San Francisco supervisor, says there is absolutely no reason that his beloved city needs any more rules.“I think that with a lot of laws, half of it is leftover morality from the Puritan days,” said Starchild, a male escort who goes by only one […]
On a busy sidewalk in San Francisco’s Polk Street neighborhood on May 20, about 25 people took part in a “Stand-In” to protest the arrests of sex workers and “Sit/Lie” – a proposed bill to make it illegal to sit or lie on the sidewalk between 7am and 11pm under threat of a fine and jail. […]
Preventing sex workers operating together makes them more vulnerable to attack – we need a more pragmatic approachThe laws governing sex for sale are clear – it is legal for one person to sell sex to another as long as elements including soliciting, trafficking, coercion and under-18s are not involved. However, if sex workers operate […]
Victory: Claire Finch argues that it is much safer for prostitutes to work in her home. By ANDREW LEVYBritain’s ‘antiquated’ vice laws were thrown into confusion yesterday when a massage parlour boss was cleared of running a brothel.Claire Finch, 49, admitted offering topless massages ‘with happy endings’ from her bungalow and advertised in local newspapers.Up to […]
A malicious prosecution with a happy ending. On Thursday 29 April 2010, in Luton Crown Court, Claire Finch was found NOT GUILTY of a criminal charge of keeping a brothel. The jury, in line with public opinion, refused to criminalise Ms Finch for working together with friends from her own home for safety. Ms Finch, her friends […]
A massage parlour boss who offered “happy endings” has been cleared of running a brothel from her bungalow.Claire Astrid Finch, 49, of Chalton Heights in Chalton, Bedfordshire, was found not guilty at Luton Crown Court of keeping a brothel for prostitution.She took out adverts in newspapers and on the internet, selling topless massage “with happy […]
A mother-of-two operated a brothel from her home in a quiet cul-de-sac employing around 20 middle-aged women, a court heard.Claire Finch, 59, is alleged to have recruited other middle aged women to work from her village home.A jury heard details of a website advert for “Claire’s massage”, which stated: “We aim to provide an impeccable […]
