Rumours are swirling around Walkerton about a new online escort service but Brockton’s mayor is hoping South Bruce OPP will investigate and shut it down if possible.
At different times stories have had the service – called Bella’s Beauties – being operated out of a local restaurant, a motel, and even a beauty spa which received telephone inquiries.
“We got a good laugh out of it,” said Julia MacDonald, owner of Happy Feet, on Durham Street West. MacDonald said there were a total of four messages left on their answering machine one weekend asking for services. “They were clearly inebriated,” she said, adding some even left their telephone numbers.
Mayor Charlie Bagnato told The WHT?that he notified police about Bella’s Beauties in early January after the Web site was brought to his attention by Chief Building Official Terry Tuck.
“Terry got an email from the CBO in Minto and notified me,” Bagnato said. The mayor, in turn, passed the information along to the OPP. “I’ve asked them to investigate,” he said.
A post on the Bella’s Beauties’ Web site boasts that it is a “very private and discrete service for the busy man. We cut the time out of asking friends by bringing men who are looking for companionship with ladies who provide companionship.”
People must take out a free membership to access any of the site. As of last week, the site claimed to have 358 members.
“Bellas will cater to you every need and desire. You will leave craving more. Our ladies enjoy what they do and do it well. So no more lonely nights. We’ve got what you want. Come take a look,” another post said.
Bagnato hopes police can put an end to the service if it’s illegal. “An escort service usually there’s more than it appears. It brings other negative elements with it. We don’t need it and I don’t want it here,” he said.
The local OPP detachment won’t confirm or deny an investigation is underway.