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Woman asks reporters to help her find sex work after brothel splash

A woman visited a weekly’s office in the hope of finding sex work after an investigation by the newspaper revealed at least 50 brothels are operating on its patch.

The Ayrshire Post has made the claim regarding the number of brothels in Ayr after reporting on a community council meeting where residents’ raised concerns about prostitutes operating in their area.

One of the meeting’s attendees claimed there had been a high turnover of sub-lets where girls were moved into flats to be exploited in the sex trade.

The Post followed up the claim with a contact who came into contact with sex workers and told the paper that there were at least 50 brothels in Ayr.

Ayrshire brothels

Editor Gary Fanning said: “Only this week, following our article, a woman came into our offices in Ayr asking if she could speak to a reporter.

“She told them she was desperate and asked if we could put her in contact with the brothels as she needed cash.

“Our reporters attempted to talk her out of it, advising her that this wasn’t a good idea and could be dangerous. The woman then left our offices and said: ‘I know where to go.'”

The Post has since received a letter from South Ayrshire Council leader Douglas Campbell, who accused the newspaper of being “irresponsible” and “ill-informed”, as well as designing the story to produce sensational headlines and sell copies.

But Gary says the newspaper stands by the story and its sources.

He added: “The article led to an uplift sales and was talked about homes, offices and pubs across Ayrshire and went beyond that by being a big talking point in news offices all over the country.

“It was just a good old-fashioned news story. Talking about drugs, violent crime and brothels seemed to be a taboo subject.”

8 comments

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  • February 23, 2018 at 9:55 am
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    ““Only this week, following our article we had a woman come into our offices in Ayr and said could she speak to a reporter. She told them she was desperate and that could we put her in contact with the brothels as she needed cash.”

    Thank God he’s only an editor; if a reporter had written that, I’d be really worried.

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  • February 23, 2018 at 12:16 pm
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    Yes, shocking English even in reported speech. We once had someone come into the Boston Target offices a few years back asking if we provided accommodation. I could have understood it if the request was for a bow and arrow!

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  • February 23, 2018 at 1:21 pm
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    Totally ludicrous and misleading front page image btw.

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  • February 23, 2018 at 3:55 pm
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    I thought it was a cover wrap

    ‘ 50 brothels’
    Escorts, earn up to £990 per job!
    Full details inside

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  • February 28, 2018 at 10:18 am
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    I thought it was a travel piece on the attractions of the area.

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  • March 1, 2018 at 10:15 am
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    Agree with the comments that front page looks like an advert. No sense of shame or outrage

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