Retired sex worker opens up on 'absolutely terrifying' side of the industry

A former sex worker has opened up about the 'absolutely terrifying' side of the industry after some horrifying experiences in the 90s.

Amanda Hailes worked on the streets of Hull in the 1990s and formed friendships with fellow sex workers, only to see some of them murdered by crazed killer Gary Allen.

Now, in the new documentary Chasing a Killer: Gary Allen, Hailes has recounted the chilling history which saw two women murdered 21 years apart by the same man, who escaped justice for far too long.

The true crime documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at a police investigation in South Yorkshire until Allen was eventually jailed in 2021, having first murdered Samantha Class in 1997.

Speaking in the mini series on Amazon Prime, Amanda explained that while she 'continued working the streets even though it was such a risk', she was determined to 'survive it'.

Amanda, who is now a campaigner for safer conditions and greater rights for sex workers in the UK, explains that it was an 'absolutely terrifying' time to be working on the streets following Samantha's death, with many worried about being targeted by the killer.

Samantha Class and Alena Grlakova were both murdered by Gary Allen (South Yorkshire Police)

Speaking to the Metro about Samantha and life in the industry, she added: "She was friendly, she was outgoing, just a really nice girl from what I can remember.

"I was waiting to score, and I was sat with another girl who worked the streets... We found out because the police arrived to search her house. It was absolutely shocking."

Amanda will be well aware of the stigma that exists against those who work in the industry, something which isn't helped by the growth of controversial sex workers in today's society, but she simply wanted to 'support her family and put food on the table', while also hitting out against those who shrug off the industry as a 'lifestyle choice'.

She continued: "It’s not until you enter sex work that you realise it’s far from easy. Physically and emotionally, it’s soul destroying.

"I think that sex workers are misunderstood. We’re often seen in films as the tart with a heart or victim number one, two, or three."

Gary Allen (South Yorkshire Police)

After strangling Samantha to death, Allen was cleared of her murder in the trial that followed, before he struck again in 2018, killing fellow sex worker Alena Grlakova.

Allen was eventually sentenced to 37 years in 2021, having gotten away with murder for decades, but he clearly did irreparable damage to not just his victims and their families, but also the likes of Amanda who felt threatened every day because of his actions.

Allen told a probation officer: "I like to frighten them. I like to cause pain. I like to make them cry. I like blood. I like to hurt them. I enjoy it. It makes me feel good."

Chasing a Killer: Gary Allen is available to watch on Prime Video now.