Shock at 'double life'

The family of a "happy, upbeat" young woman stabbed to death outside a Soho clip joint have spoken for the first time of their shock and grief.

Camille Gordon came to England from her native Jamaica hoping to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a nursery school teacher.

But her mother and sister had no idea that the 23-year-old was leading a double life - studying by day and working as a hostess at a seedy club by night.

Police believe the man who stabbed Camille in the heart on 1 March outside the Blue Bunny Club in Archer Street was a customer angry at being charged more than ?370 after spending only 10 minutes with her. "We didn't

know she was doing this sort of work, and it was a huge shock to us," said her mother Doet Allen, a 46-year-old hotel worker from Jamaica.

Police believe Camille was not actively involved in the sex trade, and was simply working at the club to help fund her teacher training.

Her job involved attracting customers into the club by giving them the impression they would be able to watch a sex show or take part in some sort of sexual activity.

Once inside customers would be "clipped" - charged extortionate amounts for nothing more than spending time with the hostess.

Her mother said: "She had been studying in Birmingham for a couple of years before she moved to London and I think she was just working in this club as she settled down. She never told us about it.

"She was a wonderful, happy, upbeat kind of person who loved to dance and made so many people happy. We miss her so much."

Now Camille's family want all clip joints closed down, to protect other women from the same fate.

Her 24-year-old sister Debbie, a teacher in Jamaica, said: "The responsibility for this attack lies with the man who stabbed my sister - but these places are putting girls like Camille at risk.

"Camille is dead now but the one thing that can come from this is that establishments like these can be closed down for good.

"What we have been through is so painful and we are worried that other men will do the same thing, and more girls will be murdered."

Camille came to Britain three years ago, as she was unable to study and work part-time in Jamaica, making it impossible for her to afford her training.

She moved to London last August. At the time of her murder she living in Norwood and waiting to enroll on a course.

She was very close to her family and had told them she would return to the Caribbean to help support them once she had qualified.

Though the Blue Bunny Club has been closed since Camille's death there are several other clip joints operating around Soho. Police cannot shut them down, as they do not serve alcohol or provide sex and thus do not contravene-licensing or prostitution legislation. Detective Inspector Andy Mortimer, the investigating officer, said: "These clubs are based entirely on artifice.

"They attract people by implying that there will be some sort of sexual activity. But they provide no real service and charge huge sums to clients for merely spending time with girls.

"Camille appears to have been deliberately targeted by a customer who was angry about having been ripped off.

"The attacker was wearing a very distinctive blue baseball jacket with the Cleveland Indians motif on the front in red. He was seen travelling south on the Bakerloo line after the attack."

Anyone with information about the attack should call the incident room on 020 8358 0100 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.