Three lapdancers and their manager kidnapped a club boss
after he failed to pay them £42,000, a court has heard. The women, who were working during the National Hunt Festival in Cheltenham,
are accused of kidnapping Curtis Woodman on 3 September 2012. Mr Woodman employed them at a club he rented, Bristol Crown Court heard. Mandy Cool, Rachel Goodchild, Stephanie Pye, along with manager Charlotte
Devaney and two men accused of acting as their "heavies", deny the charges.
Mr Woodman used the Embassy Club in Cheltenham to provide "entertainment" for
race-goers during the March festival. Ms Devaney, 34, from London, arranged for a number of women to work there as
hostesses and dancers. The club failed to secure a lapdancing licence and the women signed contracts
agreeing they would wear "bikinis and nipple tassels at all times". But when the club opened, some of the women "insisted on taking their clothes
off" and it was shut down by officials, the jury heard. Prosecuting, Martin Steen said the women were expecting to have their share
of a £42,000 payment, which was made by credit card from one customer.
But Mr Woodman felt the women had broken their contracts and were not
entitled to keep the money. Ms Devaney chased Mr Woodman for the "debt" before visiting a police station
on 3 September, where she was advised to take civil action. But later that day, Ms Devaney, along with dancers Ms Cool, 29, Ms Pye, 31
and Ms Goodchild, 24, met Alexander and Robert Morris and headed to Mr Woodman's
work in Tewkesbury. They allegedly forced Mr Woodman into Miss Davey's BMW One Series car, with
the brothers sitting either side of him.
Alexander Morris had a knife and Mr Woodman was forced to hand over his
Breitling watch, worth £4,800, the jury was told. He was then allegedly hit twice in the face and had his phone confiscated. Mr Woodman was persuaded to ring his bank and arrange for £4,800 to be
transferred into Ms Devaney's account, Mr Steen said. During the ordeal Mr Woodman managed to contact a business partner who phoned
the police. Mr Woodman said the women had signed contracts agreeing to forfeit their
commissions if they did not keep to the rules, including wearing clothes. He said they were not entitled to the money because they breached the
contract. The trial continues.
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