Piers Turner, a City of London investment banker, has hit out at claims that he is being taken advantage of during his regular visits to a local lap-dancing club and insists that he finds the experience ‘empowering’.

‘I know that in our modern, post-feminist world, the professional women that work in these clubs sometimes worry that they’re exploiting the clientèle,’ explained the 42-year-old father of three, ‘But frankly, I’m fat and ugly as sin, and for a tenner I can get a 19-year-old living Barbie doll to wobble her astoundingly pert bottom in my face. It makes me feel sexy and confident.’

Despite the sense of liberating self-worth generated by Turner’s visits to lap-dancing clubs, he feels he has to keep his interest secret from his family. ‘They’d assume I’d be like some seedy old man in an East-End pub in the 70s, taking abuse from a scary middle-aged lady stripping on a pool table, but that’s a very old-fashioned view. The men in these clubs are relaxing in a very safe, controlled environment where we’re treated with courtesy and respect.’

The lack of understanding from the outside world has created a sense of camaraderie among the men in the establishments, which Turner describes as ‘like a family’. ‘We’re all very supportive of each other. There are days when you might feel a bit down because somebody saw you walking into the club and pre-judged you, just because of what you do. But the guys always rally around and know how to cheer you up.’

Lapdancing is also helping Turner with his job, where he feels more in touch with his masculine side and can give his all for his new boss Anne. ‘She’s a great woman Anne; started a few years after me, and has really ridden that equal opportunities train to the top, but good luck to her, she deserves everything she’s got’ said Turner, quietly mumbling, ‘the frigid lesbian bitch…’