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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Jon Harris & Sophie Halle-Richards

Sex worker, 36, stabbed customer in the stomach at "Gentlemen's Health Club" after forcibly grabbing his £10 back during 1am encounter - he now says he 'lives in fear'

A sex worker stabbed a customer in the stomach after he grabbed his money back during a fumbled encounter.

Hayley Russell, 36, was jailed despite a judge suggesting the man should have been charged with robbery himself after he 'forcibly' took back the £10 he paid her for a "kiss and grope."

Manchester Crown Court heard how Russell used a Stanley knife to stab the punter after an argument broke out during their 1am liaison outside a massage parlour in Levenshulme.

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The customer, who is in his 40s, was said to wrestle his money back from her pocket, but she flew into a rage and slashed him across the abdomen and arm.

He was later treated for his wounds in hospital but was not seriously injured.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: "My life has worsened since this incident and I'm now fearful of everyone and I think they are going to attack me.

''I used to go out to exercise but I have since stopped doing this. The use of the blade really disturbed me and will stay with me forever.''

Russell, from Moston, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and having a bladed article.

The court heard she has a lengthy record for knife crime and robbery and had been caught with a blade on three previous occasions.

The attack occurred at 1am September 4 when the victim was walking to Jackie's massage parlour also described as a ''Gentleman's Health Club' based in Levenshulme.

Miss Nicola Gatto prosecuting said: ''Jackie's also offers additional sexual services and en-route he was approached by the defendant and asked if he wanted business.

"She asked if he was going to Jackie's then suggested he do business with her instead.

''They agreed a price of 10 pounds for a kiss and the two went down an alleyway. They kissed and he squeezed her bottom and it seems an argument broke out when he decided to take his money back.

Hayley Russell was jailed for 16 months (Hayley Russell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

''She became irate and started screaming: 'give me my money' and she began rifling through his pockets and pulled at his clothing.

''He fled into a takeaway to ask for assistance but they didn't want to get involved so he went to another shop where staff called police.

"He described the attack as 'relentless' saying it went on for over 10 minutes. Police arrived to find he had an injury to his stomach and one of his arms and that he was quite intoxicated.

''They spoke to the defendant who admitted she had slashed him with a miniature Stanley knife.''

She added: ''It seem the service he paid for was underway when the incident took place. She said she felt some movement in her own pocket and the complainant acknowledge he had taken the money back from her.

"It could be argued she had a right to that money but went about getting it back in an inappropriate way. the taking of the money was the catalyst to this incident.''

The victim was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he was treated for a 12cm wound to his abdomen plus a laceration to his left forearm and bruising to his right cheek.

In interview Russell said she and the man had agreed a £10 fee for a 'kiss and grope' but whilst they were 'doing business'' he took the money back from her.

Hayley Russell (Hayley Russell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

She said she challenged him but he refused to release his grip on the bank note and they started fighting.

Russell has 49 previous offences on her record dating back to the year 2000 including battery, attempted robbery, robbery with a bladed article and possessing an offensive weapon.

In mitigation her counsel Chloe Fordham said: ''After she had agreed a price of ten pounds he then tried to take things further. She has had previous experience of violence whilst operating as a sex worker.''

Sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Jon Close told Russell: ''The complainant paid the defendant for a service, received that service then tried to take the money back for that service.

"He had no right to do that and he could very easily have been charged himself with a serious criminal offence if he took that money back by force.

''But in trying to take your money back - because it was your money at that point - you attacked him.

"You have a worrying and embedded record for knife crime and risk of causing serious harm is deemed high - regardless of what led up to this very serious offence.''

Russel was jailed for 16 months.

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