Man arrested on suspicion of incitement to prostitution

Two weeks ago Channel 4 News broadcast an investigation by Firecrest Films into a website called Sponsor A Scholar, writes Louise Turner. The site allegedly claimed to offer up to £15,000 a year in tuition fees for students in exchange for “discrete adventures” with “wealthy businessmen”.

We’d been looking in to the site and the man said to be behind it for three months. In October, we made a formal statement to the police after we heard allegations that the man behind the site was taking advantage of vulnerable women who applied for interview. We were told at the time there was not enough evidence for the police to act, so we decided to gather our own.

In November, a Channel 4 News undercover reporter attended an interview with the man behind the website in a flat he had rented in south east London. Although she was told his name was John, Channel 4 News identified him as a man called Mark Lancaster. Again we passed on our information to the police.

Tonight we’ve learnt a 39-year-old man – believed to be Mark Lancaster – has been arrested in Milton Keynes. He’s suspected of incitement to cause prostitution under the sexual offences act. The Met Police prostitution unit is investigating – no charges have been brought.

The man has been bailed and will return to a London police station in February next year.