A mum-of-four has revealed how she ditched her job in Bargain Buys to become a £140-an-hour dominatrix to beat up 'slaves' in her makeshift living room dungeon.
Mizz Enigma UK says people of all walks of life come to her Billingham terrace, demanding to be abused, humiliated and dominated.
Men and women come alone, or as couples where they watch as their other half is battered and beaten.
But the mum says it is nothing like 50 Shades of Grey and says there is no skin to skin contact.
Among her regulars are a transvestite, a "human pony" and a 70-year-old who loves "tickle torture".
Teesside Live was invited to tour the 41-year-old's playroom and hear all about her bizarre services.
From swinging to low libido: 10 midlife sex questions you were too afraid to ask
Enigma inflicts pain using an astounding collection of specially-crafted batons, whips and canes - with some handmade creations worth thousands.
"Some people go to bingo. I just like to beat people up for a bit of fun," she told Teesside Live.
"I'm not embarrassed at all."
Clients include everyone from a high-flying barrister to a client trying to get by on benefits.
She refuses to see anyone under under 21, and until recently looked after "adult babies".
"Now I'm going to be a nana, I decided to stop that one," she said. "It just feels a bit too weird."
I saw sex, vaginas and naked bodies everywhere - but I was actually dangerously ill
Almost every fetish and desire can be catered for - a stint in the stocks, time inside a "dog cage" or shocks from a Victorian electrocution kit.
Her favourite treatments though are too gruelling, painful and graphic to publish in detail.
"I wait for them to say 'no, stop!'" she said. "But they never do."
The mum, originally from Dormanstown, insists she strictly does not offer sexual services.
"The neighbours think I'm on the game," she said. "But I don't give any extra services at all.
"That’s the rule I work by and I think it's why I am still in business 10 years on."
In fact, Engima always wears gloves, there is no skin to skin contact and she takes "cross contamination very seriously" - with a strict sterilising regime.
Hour-long sessions are carefully-orchestrated "scenes" with her playing the starring role and her submissives as "extras".
Enigma’s attire during her sessions ranges from a classy business suit to lingerie - and always with a £550 pair of high heels.
Clients call her "mistress" and she is in control, but safety comes first.
"It’s about talking, trust and warming up.
"I always ask what is allowed or not allowed. There are safe words. Then it stops immediately.
"There's no repercussions. They don't pay."
Enigma could get requests to do anything and everything.
"I don't have to understand. I just work with it," she said.
"Everything stays between four walls."
She added: "It makes me really belly laugh. It's hilarious.
"It's just funny, it really is. Some actually like being laughed at. They want to be humiliated.
"I don't always laugh in their face. But if I can get away with it, I have a good chuckle."
But despite her often brutal treatments, Enigma insists she is not a violent person.
"Someone who does this would not last two minutes if they were doing it for violence," she said.
"I care for my slaves. It's not about what I want. It's about serving their needs."
Feelings of depression, doubt and self-loathing, known as "sub drop", are common after the sessions.
Aftercare is vitally important, with Enigma always checking they are "stable in their body and mind" before releasing them.
She said: "I can't just beat them up and kick them out. I'll reassure them and give them a cuddle."
In the kitchen she keeps the "world's best first aid kit" to deal with physical damage.
Luckily Enigma has avoided a major medical emergency this far, except one unfortunate episode which led to a trip to A&E.
The mum first started BDSM at the age of 26, but it only became her full time profession in December.
Before this, she worked in Bargain Buys.
She now effectively lives for free, with "lifestyle slaves" paying her rent and utility bills and completing most of her household chores.
Enigma's churchgoing mum and four kids, aged in their teens and twenties, are all aware of her unusual career.
"They honestly don't care," she said.
"They know what mam does. They know mam is safe in what she's doing. I have brought them up to be non-judgmental."
She keeps her personal life closely guarded, but tells us she enjoys her own private BDSM sessions: "I take the pain. I don't give out what I can't take."
Enigma’s services are openly advertised on the internet and she has nothing to hide.
"I'm here to be me," she said. "I’m not going to pretend to be something I'm not.
"I’m not on benefits. I’m not stealing from the state. I’m supporting myself.
"I’m not ashamed in any way. I'm not doing anything illegal."She sees her work as a vital service: "Some of the people who see me, it's their only outlet. It's their only release.
"They don’t want a relationship with anyone. I am not in a relationship. It's just a bit of fun. It's adults wanting fun."
Her living room dungeon only opened a month ago and is a work in progress.
But she already has plans for a special "slaves entrance", en-suite facilities and a special cell under the stairs.
And she is always encouraging new kinky clients to enter the dungeon for the first time.
"Don't be ashamed of who you are," she said. "Be open and honest. I'm not here to judge anyone.
"If you think you've got a new kink, you haven't. I will have seen it before."
