Dec 20 2005
Thousands of pounds worth of sex toys and lingerie are being sold off at auction after one of the UK's largest sex shops failed to pay off a debt.

The shelves were cleared at the Hustler Hollywood sex shops in Birmingham and London after Sherforce High Court Enforcement Officers were authorized to seize the goods.

Alan Smith, Manager of Sherforce, said: "Our enforcement officers entered the buildings with a warrant and took away a variety of objects and clothing, which are now being auctioned off."

The first batch of items was sold at auction in Hainault to a single bidder for £10,000 but further items are lined up both there and at an auction house in Nottingham.

The 6,000 foot Hustler Hollywood Birmingham store was opened in a blaze of publicity in October 2004, and was billed as the largest sex product outlet in the UK. A further branch subsequently opened in London, as part of plans to open 10 sex shops across the UK by 2012, including ones in Nottingham and Cardiff.

Mr Smith from Sherforce, the UK's largest High Court enforcement agency, added: "Our job is to ensure that businesses pay their debts. If this happens, then Hustler Hollywood will be able to reclaim the items that have been sent to auction. If not, they will be sold."

Dates have yet to be set for the remaining auctions.