A very wealthy Italian paid me thousands to have grubby sex. I felt

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 1, 2004 | by SUZANNE KERINS

TEARFUL model Sophie Anderton last night confessed to a night of vice-girl shame.

She revealed she was paid thousands of pounds by a businessman to have sex with him in the romantic city of Florence, Italy after meeting a "madam" known only as Bella.

In a frank interview, reformed cocaine addict Sophie blamed her former addiction for her slide into the sleazy world of escorts in January of this year.

The former Gossard bra model also claimed she was lured into being paid for sex - which netted her around pounds 5,000 for the night.

And she says her new love, club boss boyfriend Mark Alexiou is standing by her, despite her shame.

Wiping back the tears as she spoke to the Sunday Mirror last night, 27-year-old Sophie confessed: "I was so naive - and I am so angry with myself at getting sucked in by it all.

"But, yes, I was paid for my night with him. I felt dirty and abused afterwards."

Beautiful Sophie, who is now rebuilding her modelling and TV career, told how she was introduced to the dark world of high- society vice after her troubled relationship with former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich ended last winter.

Sophie, was still battling her cocaine addiction as she came to terms with the end of the two-year romance.

An emotional Sophie confessed: "It was in January. I was hanging out with girls I would certainly not be hanging out with now. A couple of them were models. I assumed the rest of them were too. I found out later that a lot of them weren't and that they were escort girls instead.

"One evening, I was told by one of the girls that she had passed my mobile phone number to a woman called Bella. At the time I didn't know who she was but I was told she had lots of contacts in the fashion industry. I now realise she was a vice-girls' madam."

Thinking back to last winter and her troubles, Sophie takes a deep breath and continues: "At the time I was drinking a lot and taking cocaine. If I had not been on drugs, I would have thought there was something very strange about the whole thing, but back then I felt awful about myself.

"I had no money and my modelling career was dead. I thought these people were my friends.

"Bella set me up on a date with an Italian businessman. He took me out for a couple of dinners in London - but we didn't have sex.

"He was very sweet and kind to me - well educated and very good- looking. We got on well.

"He asked me to go to Florence and I asked Bella if he was an OK guy. She told me he was.

"I felt bit a lonely after splitting with Mark and didn't think there was anything wrong with going.

"When we got to Florence, we went out for a meal and he took me out for a few drinks afterwards.

"He brought along a group of friends and business colleagues with him.

"During the night, he kept on giving me drugs. I am not the type of girl to jump into bed with someone on a first date.

"When we finally got back to the hotel room, he gave me more cocaine. We kissed and spent the night together.

"When I woke up the next morning, he had gone. I found a Christian Dior handbag on the bed.

"I thought that that was very odd. I felt very uncomfortable about it.

"But I went to put my wallet in the handbag and there was an envelope with loads of money in it. I didn't count the cash but there were thousands of pounds all in 50 euro notes. The hotel suite alone cost over pounds 1,000.

"I was horrified. I realised I'd literally been paid for sex. That made me a prostitute."

"There was also a letter from him saying 'Thank you for a lovely time, stay in touch'. He was a very respectable man, but I had never been treated like that before.

"I was shocked that he had disappeared without saying goodbye. I felt like I had been used. I was understandably disgusted. I cried myself to sleep that night.

"When he took me out for dinner the night before I felt so special because he was so nice to me and paid me so much attention.

"For the first time in a long time I felt desired and good- looking. But the next day I felt dirty and abused."

"After that night, I decided I wouldn't contact the Italian man again - but he did leave me his number.

"Bella did call me again and even asked me whether I'd like to go and visit an Arab man. I said no. I wasn't interested.

"She was being very persistent but I was trying to get my life together. She kept calling me telling me she wanted to hang out with her girls and that I could earn thousands of pounds a night. I told her I wasn't interested. But she insisted on calling. It made me feel disgusting."

Sophie has since rebuilt her life. She is a regular on TV and is back on the front pages of glossy magazines.

She has recently been photographed for Glamour and Marie Claire magazines and is the cover girl for the new issue of Loaded. She's very excited about landing a new role as the face of lingerie chain La Perla as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

And she will also be the new face of Jeff Banks's clothing range with High Street giant Debenhams.

Most importantly, Sophie is also happily in a relationship with Mark Alexiou, 29, who she has been seeing for five months.