News
Santa Holds Onto A Sex Toy Dildo
Published: Nov 18, 2004 - 08:24 PM
BOSSES at a city sex shop have been told to remove their window display showing Father Christmas with a sex aid after people complained. Police told staff at Sinsins Love Store in Charing Cross, to change the window display because it had offended people.
John Faith, from Manchester, had been visiting friends in Norwich and saw the naughty Santa after his children, aged five and six, drew it to his attention.
"It is a bit of a shock when you're driving along and you see that in the shop window and your children turn round and ask what he's holding in his hand and you say a lollipop," said Mr Faith.
Mr Faith, who is in his 40s, said the display was not in good taste and something should be done about it.
"It's not very nice," said Mr Faith, who said he felt Christmas should be a family time of year.
"I know they've got to sell their property. They probably think it's hilarious, but we don't. It was so embarrassing, as you can imagine. I just think it's in bad taste."
Michael Sheldrake, shop floor manager of Sinsins, said the offending item was removed on Tuesday after the police were alerted to the tongue-in-cheek display.
"That's the only complaint we've had," he said. "Everyone else thought it was really good, really funny — even the police thought it was quite good."
Mr Sheldrake said the offending item went on display last Thursday and had already generated a great deal of interest.
"It was put in, basically, as a way of attracting attention and attracting custom for the shop as a bit of fun, something different," he said.
"We've had people taking pictures with cameras and with phones.
"A lot of people have stopped and had a laugh. I don't think anyone has been disapproving of it.
"We've actually had people come in and say they think it's brilliant and has really made them laugh."
Mr Sheldrake said the police told them to remove the shocking pink sex aid after receiving a complaint from a member of the public.
"I think the people who complained didn't like the thrusting motion it made," said Mr Sheldrake, who said that the display had now been modified.
"It's just a bit of fun," he said. "Just to get people's attention and get them into the shop for Christmas. There are a lot of people who don't know where we are and it's just a way of getting people in and having a look round. It wasn't meant to cause any embarrassment or upset anyone."
It is not the first time the city centre store has been in trouble over its risque window displays.
In 2000, police asked owners to tone down a display which showed teddy bears with "outsized manhoods" in the window amid fears that it might upset people.
In July, the Evening News reported how a sex stunt by bosses at Ann Summers got workers at Norwich Union hot under the collar.
In a cheeky campaign to promote National Orgasm Week, Ann Summers used the insurance giant's name on a poster which had a couple's feet poking out of the bottom of a bed to promote the special event.
"It is a bit of a shock when you're driving along and you see that in the shop window and your children turn round and ask what he's holding in his hand and you say a lollipop," said Mr Faith.
Mr Faith, who is in his 40s, said the display was not in good taste and something should be done about it.
"It's not very nice," said Mr Faith, who said he felt Christmas should be a family time of year.
"I know they've got to sell their property. They probably think it's hilarious, but we don't. It was so embarrassing, as you can imagine. I just think it's in bad taste."
Michael Sheldrake, shop floor manager of Sinsins, said the offending item was removed on Tuesday after the police were alerted to the tongue-in-cheek display.
"That's the only complaint we've had," he said. "Everyone else thought it was really good, really funny — even the police thought it was quite good."
Mr Sheldrake said the offending item went on display last Thursday and had already generated a great deal of interest.
"It was put in, basically, as a way of attracting attention and attracting custom for the shop as a bit of fun, something different," he said.
"We've had people taking pictures with cameras and with phones.
"A lot of people have stopped and had a laugh. I don't think anyone has been disapproving of it.
"We've actually had people come in and say they think it's brilliant and has really made them laugh."
Mr Sheldrake said the police told them to remove the shocking pink sex aid after receiving a complaint from a member of the public.
"I think the people who complained didn't like the thrusting motion it made," said Mr Sheldrake, who said that the display had now been modified.
"It's just a bit of fun," he said. "Just to get people's attention and get them into the shop for Christmas. There are a lot of people who don't know where we are and it's just a way of getting people in and having a look round. It wasn't meant to cause any embarrassment or upset anyone."
It is not the first time the city centre store has been in trouble over its risque window displays.
In 2000, police asked owners to tone down a display which showed teddy bears with "outsized manhoods" in the window amid fears that it might upset people.
In July, the Evening News reported how a sex stunt by bosses at Ann Summers got workers at Norwich Union hot under the collar.
In a cheeky campaign to promote National Orgasm Week, Ann Summers used the insurance giant's name on a poster which had a couple's feet poking out of the bottom of a bed to promote the special event.
