THIS WEEK IN 1988: Ruling on Southsea sex shop condemned

A Portsmouth women's group condemned a High Court judge's decision to refuse the city council an injunction in its five-year legal battle against a Southsea sex shop.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th Mar 2017, 06:00 BST

Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:05 BST

As a result, they planned a campaign of demonstrations, starting March 12, outside the shop to try and force its closure.

Earlier in the week, Justice Hutchinson turned down a council application to obtain a High Court injunction against The Private Shop at Castle Road.

The council claimed the shop, owned by Quietlynn Ltd, was not licensed to sell sex aids.

But the judge, after a two-day hearing in chambers at Winchester, ruled in favour of the shop, saying the council had exhausted its powers under criminal law.

Lynette Rees, of the Portsmouth Women For Peace group, said: ‘I find his decision quite staggering – it is a terrible blow to women and children in this city, but we intend to keep fighting until this shop is closed.’

Announcing his decision, the judge urged the council to bring repeated prosecutions against the shop as a way of bringing about its closure.