Defeated Tory candidate hits back over 'bondage' claims » Local Government » 24dash.com

The defeated Conservative candidate in a Worcester City Council by-election has spoken out in protest against recent press coverage which stated that she is the proprietor of a website that sells a vast array of “whips, chains and other bondage products”.

Lisa Ventura, who lost her seat in the by-election by a swing of 17.6% to Jenny Barnes of the Labour Party, has admitted runing an erotic fiction website which she describes as 'very tame in nature'.

However, she has strongly refuted claims made by Simon Walters of The Mail on Sunday that she runs a far more risqué website called 'Wicked Tickles'.

According to Ms Ventura, Walters made the mistake when he visited a website with a similar domain name to her own eroticfiction.org, and no-one from The Mail on Sunday contacted her to validate the information.

She explained: “The difference between my site and this 'Wicked Tickles' site is huge.

"My site is very tame in nature compared to 'Wicked Tickles' and contains material that is more akin to Mills & Boon romance novels. Also if you visit my site, there is no online shop."

“I am looking to set the record straight as I feel I have been grossly misrepresented by The Mail on Sunday,” said Lisa.

“I would also like to point out that I am not the proprietor or connected in any way to the 'Wicked Tickles' website."

Ms ventura also claims she was misrepresented in the media in the reporting of a telephone conversation she had with a member of the press.

"I am extremely incensed at the comment that I “hung up” on my mobile phone after confirming my name on the Friday after the by-election," she explained.

"As I recall, my mobile phone rang and I was in a very bad signal area.  The call dropped after I heard someone ask for me by name.

"However, my mobile display showed a witheld number, so how on earth was I supposed to ring back as whoever was on the phone did not get round to telling me who they were!  Also, no-one rang back after the call dropped."

Ms Ventura pointed out there was, at least, one correct fact in all of the press coverage – she does indeed live in Beaver Close, Lower Wick.

“A lot of the press couldn’t believe that I actually live at such an address given my website,” she said.  “But the fact is I do.  You couldn’t make it up”.

Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information - http://www.24dash.com/podcasts