LONG READ: Former glamor model
@sachaistreem will tell her story as one of the many victims of David Sullivan's sleazy behaviour on BBC Panorama airing Monday 8pm.
This is her story of her meeting with David Sullivan, from her blog.
Part 1/2:
I was told that a major media publication owner wanted to see me and my portfolio. He was a big player in the industry. Looking back, I see how naĆÆve I was, but going to see him, and that being my entry into the glamour modelling world, well in hindsight, that taught me a lot about how this world was going to beā¦
I was given an appointment, took a half day holiday off work and made my way there. I jumped off the underground tube station and marched determinedly up to these massive gates which a full-on mansion sat behind. Ā I rung the entry bell and walked up this huge driveway in my pin stripe city dress, with my heart thumping loudly through my chest.
I was not that young, I wasnāt silly, and Iām not stupid, I was just going to show him my portfolio, surely nothing bad could happen to me, I thought.
I rung the bell, a butler came to the door, as I walked into the lobby all I could see was bling, everything looked gold plated, very OTT, ostentatious to the max.Ā I sat waiting, clutching my portfolio, I had no idea what to expect.Ā
He appeared, short, old, in a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops.Ā I was appalled at just that to start with, I was used to smart dressed city types when doing business.
But this was a different business world altogether. Ā He took me to the lounge, where I sat while he thumbed through my portfolio, saying things like āyes, very niceā murmuring appreciatively, he then looked up and said, āok, I need to see you, come with me.ā
Frankly I was shiting myself, but Iād seen other people in the house, a secretary, and the butler. Ā One side of me was saying āYou want to be a pg3 model, donāt you? of course he has to Āsee youā the other side of me was screaming āget the f**k out of thereā.
I let the first one win, I figured if he tried to touch me, Iād scream the house down.
I followed him up the stairs into his bedroom, he gestured to the bathroom. Ā I went in, took my dress off, leaving my bra and knickers on, and with all the courage I could muster, walked out of the en-suite.
He had a four-poster bed and a chaise longue; he was sitting on that. Ā He looked at me standing in the doorway, murmuring more appreciative comments, he then beckoned to me and said ācome and sit next to meā.
I didnāt know what the hell to do at this point, this was getting seriously concerning.Ā
I went over to the chaise longue, perched my little ass as far away from him on it as I could, turned and looked him in the eye, he then said these words, Iāll never forget themā¦
āWell, I can put you in the *****, but do you know ***** (he stated a well-known model, that was constantly all over this publication, he then said, āsheās one of my special friends, and you could be one of those special friends too.ā