Sex Worker Shares Harrowing Experiences and Advocates for Law Reform
Victoria Holcombe, a sex worker, has come forward to shed light on the dangers faced by escorts in the industry. She revealed that she was subjected to a horrifying ordeal in which she was “dragged by a car for 100 yards down a city centre road” and later “held hostage with a cricket bat” in a separate attack. Now, she is calling for immediate changes to the law to ensure the safety of sex workers.
The 40-year-old plans to take her case to the High Court, urging the UK government to allow sex workers to operate in pairs for enhanced protection, as is the practice in Amsterdam. While selling sex is not illegal in the country, soliciting for prostitution and owning or running a brothel are considered crimes. Victoria raised a pertinent question, asking why sex workers are not permitted to work in pairs when they contribute to society and pay their fair share of taxes.
She emphasized the vulnerability of sex workers, stating, “We’re women, we’re 5ft5in, we’re not big people. We’re quite often dressed in very little as well. I’m on the front line facing this danger, so why should I have to endure it?”
Victoria acknowledged that the majority of her clients were not problematic and shared stories that left her deeply moved. “I’ve left clients’ houses crying because I felt so sorry for them,” she revealed.
However, she also recounted the two terrifying attacks she endured. In the first incident, which took place on September 27, Victoria, who was working for an agency at the time, was on a half-hour booking in an apartment on George Street in Birmingham city centre. The agency dropped her off and left her to handle the job alone, offering no protection. She narrated, “I was doing the booking and he’s stolen my handbag and ran out of the apartment, so I’ve chased him up the road. I managed to catch up with him, but as he got into the car, I put my arm through the window to retrieve my bag, and that’s when he sped off with me still attached to the car. I was dragged about 100 yards because my arm was trapped in the window.”
A witness, a dog walker, reported the incident to West Midlands Police, recounting the distressing scene of seeing Victoria being dragged by the car.
Fortunately, on that fateful night, Victoria had worn flat knee-high boots instead of the customary heels for escorts, which protected her feet. Reflecting on the incident, she expressed gratitude, saying, “I was very lucky I was wearing those. The police have photographs of my injuries; my face was badly bruised from hitting the pavement.”
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In a separate attack on May 12, Victoria was held hostage in her own flat. Recounting the harrowing incident, she shared, “He tried to convince me to let him stay longer, pretending to be interested in me. However, as the session came to an end around 5:05 pm, he suddenly started assaulting me, demanding his money back. He held me captive in the room, armed with a cricket bat, and we fought in the street as he attempted to steal my phone.”
Describing the chaos that unfolded, Victoria added, “He tried to rob my house, took my tobacco, and even attempted to flee with my scooter. I told him, ‘You can take that, nobody uses it.’ However, he realized he couldn’t run with it as it was too heavy and uncharged. Eventually, he stormed out into the street and threw all my belongings from the handbag onto the ground.”
Victoria’s brave decision to speak out serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by sex workers and highlights the urgent