Sex shop boss in third bid to sell hardcore films

But Kathleen Sutton, proprietor of Secret Desires, Rowlands Road, Worthing, faces a barrage of objections.

Borough councillors have received protest petitions containing almost 2,000 names, but more than a quarter of those who signed were not from the town and 137 failed to put down their addresses.

Ms Sutton, who wants a sex shop licence, submitted a counter petition of 528 names, but 187 were not local and 209 did not leave their addresses.

Without a licence, children are allowed into the shop, and can also see inside from the street.

Police raised no objections to a licence being granted.

One protester wrote: "Some might easily decide to shop elsewhere if West Worthing becomes known as a 'sleazy area."

Meanwhile another warned: "I am convinced that a shop licensed to sell hardcore sex films would be a blight on the town."

It was also claimed that pornography exploited women and turned them into sex objects fit only for leering at.

The campaign against the shop has been led by Steve Stevens, a decorated Second World War pilot who lives in Rowlands Road.

But a supporter of the application said: "I do not object in principle to the presence of this shop in Rowlands Road, but as I have three school-aged children I find some of the posters and items displayed in the window to be unsuitable for public display.

"I understand that granting a licence would enable the council to exert greater control, and would therefore prefer the shop to become licensed."

A report to councillors on February 6 said there had been no complaints about the conduct of the business.

It added: "The effect of being unlicensed means the business is unable to sell R18-rated video or DVD films and only a limited proportion of sex articles.

"However, being unlicensed has also meant the business can allow entry to patrons of any age and this authority has no control of what is displayed in the windows."

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