Source: Telegraph
Avram Grant: Premier League boss's brothel visit
The Portsmouth boss, pictured with his wife Tzofit in Tel Aviv, was photographed leaving the Thai 'massage parlour' near his club's training ground. [LNB]Police sources confirmed that they were pursuing an active investigation into the brothel, where prostitutes charge up to £130 for intercourse. [LNB] Related ArticlesMax Mosley defends John TerryAntoine Sibierski is 'shattered' by death of his daughter SibylleTerry will not resign before talksFabio Capello's dilemmaCapello may offer reprieveJohn Terry set for Fabio Capello showdownOfficers intend to speak to clients of the brothel, who would be potential witnesses if the inquiry resulted in a prosecution of anyone alleged to be living off immoral earnings. [LNB]Israel-born Mr Grant, who has two children aged 12 and 15, spent around an hour inside the premises on the afternoon of Dec 18 last year before he was confronted by a reporter as he left. [LNB]Asked if he knew it was a brothel, the former Chelsea manager smiled and said: 'Yes".[LNB]He refused to say what he had been doing there and climbed into a chauffeur-driven car. [LNB]Last year a tabloid newspaper reported that a Premier League manager had been caught visiting a brothel, but did not name him or identify the location. [LNB]At the time, the newspaper blamed 'creeping privacy laws' for preventing it from publishing further details. [LNB]It followed a number of cases in which wealthy and famous individuals had successfully used the Human Rights Act to gag the media. [LNB]But a landmark ruling by Mr Justice Tugendhat last week swung the pendulum back in favour of freedom of speech, when he revoked an injunction granted to John Terry, the Chelsea and England captain, which had blocked reporting of his extra-marital affair. [LNB]Mr Justice Tugendhat commented that while 'freedom to live as one chooses' was a valuable principle, 'so is the freedom to criticise within the limits of the law the conduct of other members of society as being socially harmful or wrong'. [LNB]In recent weeks, Mr Grant's name has been widely circulated on the internet, with more than 10,000 references to the brothel visit on various websites, and The Daily Telegraph has established independently that he is the manager in question. [LNB]This week Mr Grant, 54, declined to answer questions about the brothel visit which were put to him via his solicitor. [LNB]The brothel, which is a short drive from Portsmouth's training ground in Eastleigh, Hants, is housed in an anonymous industrial unit in the village of Horton Heath. [LNB]A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: 'We are aware of certain allegations that have been made in connection with that location. [LNB]"There is nothing to evidence the allegations at the moment.'[LNB]But a source close to the investigation confirmed that it was 'active', adding: 'We want to speak to people who have been there, to clients who might be potential witnesses.'[LNB]Prostitution is not against the law in the UK, nor is using the services of a prostitute in a private place, but keeping a brothel is illegal under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years. [LNB]
