A naked investigator was offered a “happy ending” at a City spa as the theme tune from the movie Titanic played on repeat.
The China Five Elements massage parlour near Liverpool Street is one of a string of licences that have not been renewed following a crackdown on alleged “sexual services” in London’s financial district.
An undercover investigator hired by Tower Hamlets council visited the spa in Artillery Road after a tip-off from a surveillance company. It found online reviews that suggested services such as “topless happy endings” were being offered for £40, a report says.
One review, from a “family man”, said his masseur offered him sexual services and he felt “violated” by the experience. The investigator said he was led to a room where an eastern European woman was waiting.
“The theme song from the Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet film Titanic was playing on repeat during the massage,” he wrote in his report to the council. He claimed the woman “touched my crotch area”.
He added: “The female asked if I wanted anything more than a massage. She said a ‘happy ending’ was £40, ‘with breasts’ was £60 and ‘completely naked’ was £100. I refused.”
Company bosses were ordered to pay £1,836 in fines and costs after admitting breaching licensing conditions, at Stratford magistrates’ court on September 28. Tower Hamlets council last week denied China Five Elements renewal of its special treatment licence, meaning it cannot operate as a massage parlour.
The company has until the end of December to appeal.
A spokesman for China Five Elements said: "We are very disappointed that the council has refused to renew our licence. We operate a legitimate business and take strong action against staff who break the rules or do not comply with our code of conduct.
"This has resulted in one person being sacked. We are planning to appeal the decision as we feel that we have been doing all that we can."
