THE businesslike title of McCoy’s Guide to Adult Services in South West England plus South Wales belies its grubby and overwhelmingly sad contents.

It is nothing less than a directory for the inadequates and degenerates who see nothing wrong in handing cash to a stranger – and quite possibly a vulnerable stranger – for sex.

Albertine Davies of the Swindon Feminist Network describes author George McCoy as being no better than a pimp, and we are inclined to agree with her.

McCoy himself says: “Most of the people who are opposed to the sex industry and sex work are feminist lesbians with a holier-than-thou prudish attitude towards the industry.”

This, we suggest, tells us all we need to know about character of the man.

His claim that many of the women prefer their work to conventional jobs is rendered nonsensical by a glance at some of the photographs of women in the book.

They might smile or try to appear alluring, but their eyes don’t lie.

Horrifyingly, one woman whose contact details are given says she is no longer a prostitute.

If there is anything positive to be said about the sordid little volume, it is that it might at least take customers away from the street prostitutes at the lowest, most dangerous rung of this tragic ladder, and encourage them to seek help in mending their lives.

This in no way redeems the book or its author.