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When Aberdeen’s secret sex industry was exposed

Police in Aberdeen are treating the death as murder
Police in Aberdeen are treating the death as murder

In 2012, The Press and Journal revealed the murky underbelly of Aberdeen’s affluent oil and gas trade – the sex industry.

As part of a six-day series, we looked at the unorthodox business which was ticking away in the depths of the energy-rich city.

Our reporters found that women were working directly from hotel rooms, as staff and guests obliviously carried on with their day.

Murder investigation: Aberdeen police link death to prostitution

Some women came to the north-east “on tour” from other parts of Scotland, the UK, and even overseas. Many quoted “oil” as the reason for their visit.

One of the oldest professions in the word, selling sex is completely legal in Scotland, so long as it between two consenting adults in private.

However, public solicitation is a criminal offence and those found guilty can be fined up to £500.

Honey, one of the sex workers we spoke to at the time told us she felt safe carrying out her business in Aberdeen.

A Brazilian mother-of-two, she was what police would call a “sexual entrepreneur” and charged £150 an hour for her dominatrix services.

In an article published on September 6, 2012, Honey told us: “I like Aberdeen, it feels safe.

“If someone suspicious comes to my door, I know I can call the police and I’ll be treated with respect. In a lot of places, that’s not the case.

“Generally, the men here are nice and respectable. A lot of them have been married for many years, maybe their wives aren’t well, or have had babies and aren’t in the mood for sex.

“Then there are the young single guys who can’t get a girlfriend. They are all just looking for a service which I can provide.”

However, not every working girl was as confident as Honey.

Some women were found to be working to fuel their drug or alcohol addiction, and were targeted by Operation Begonia – a police initiative established to help women get off the game.

Social workers and groups in the city such as Drugs Action and Aberdeen Cyrenians were on hand to help women beat their addictions, find a home and, maybe in time, start a college course or job.

Drugs Action even ran a “dodgy punters” scheme where women could share information on any men who had behaved inappropriately or harmed them.