mineaha said:

the cops anyhow (anonymously) for general advice only to be told by some disinterested nincompoop that prostitution is illegal - or at least that's what he remembers from his 'training' course.

   

I don't know what this "nincompoop" is doing sitting in a police station as he clearly doesn't know the laws he's supposed to enforce. Jeezz..

 

We share the flat and all paperwork is in my friends name - know technically this is illegal but the law is an ass.  (We've both had coppers as clients  )

Yep, at least one of you is breaking the brothel laws, but it sounds like the local police don't care.

It's a bit late now, and I'm aware I'm saying this as not the person who was in the room with him, but...

Paid a tenner less then he should have done to keep quiet - he gave me no choice on the matter.  There followed a series of texts asking for a discounted session with my friend (who works from the same flat) at some time in the future,  to keep his lips sealed.  Felt we had no option but agree to this - again, a tenner off.

... this is where it went wrong. You're now in a position where you've given what he wanted, twice, and he will expect you to keep on doing that. It would have been better to have said 'fuck off' at the point where he started all this. Oh well.

Rang the cops anyhow (anonymously) for general advice only to be told by some disinterested nincompoop that prostitution is illegal - or at least that's what he remembers from his 'training' course.   

If you're in / near a large city, there should be a sex work project that should have contacts with someone in the police with more clue who doesn't confuse soliciting with prostitution. I'd recommend that way above some of the 'threaten them back' approaches above.

Oh, for housing law info, it is difficult to do better than Shelterline: free call 0808 800 4444, from 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday. If you're not in England, the Shelter website will have details of the local equivalent (housing law differs in the different countries of the UK).

If you're in / near a large city, there should be a sex work project that should have contacts with someone in the police with more clue who doesn't confuse soliciting with prostitution.

Seconded.  Get someone who knows what they're talking about (easier said than done, I know).

As for the steaming piece of shit who's blackmailing you, I am not endorsing this course of action but if it was me I'd tell him you've got him naked on CCTV (he doesn't know you don't have hidden cameras) and you're sure his wife/girlfriend/work colleagues would be very interested in the footage.  As for any 'freebies' to get his car numberplate, I understand why you want the numberplate but you could just arrange the booking and not answer the door when he arrives.  (Obviously, this only works if you can see his car out of the window from your incall place.)  But I would definitely not be giving him any more tenners off, never mind freebies   

Update - the last couple of days have been pretty stomach churning for me, but even more so for my friend who has far more at stake.  After yet another sleepless might she sent a text to the turd mentioning that she had clients who were business men with close connections to our landlord; that she is a qualified auditor with connections to the tax office (we have a strong hunch he's probably self assessed); that clients who also happen to be policemen are putting her in touch with a liaison officer and that she has many clients who would hate to see her upset......

She told him that all of the above are waiting for her  to send them pics of his van and copies of the texts he has sent - that is if it comes to that     As a final comment she casually mentioned the brothers and husband who are not yet aware of the situation.

There was no response for a while and then he rang her.  A fairly heated discussion ensued, but he rang again and a calmer conversation was had - he seems to have backed down at least for the time being.  However, we will still probably move, but in less of a panic than if this guy told all tomorrow.  He could now swear blind that he'll stay schtum but we all now how alcohol can loosen tongues and whatever his intentions it could still all go wrong.

Thanks for the Ipswich number - rang and Janet called me back.  Although the heat has gone out of the situation she's going to call again with a contact for my area, whether I need it now or in the future.

On another brighter note - a regular came to see me this evening.  He was regaled of my tale of woe.  When it came to paying he put down an extra tenner.  He said it was because he was way over his time.  I replied that that was only because he'd been kind enough to listen, that the over run was due to ME.  His response that it was also to compensate for the turd's underpayment.  It restores faith in most being decent, kind and caring.

Thanks again for all contributions to this thread - it has been much appreciated 

awww thats really nice .... its not the tenner but the kind thought behind it,  hope you gave him an extra nice kissy