UK village embroiled in sex scandal as 'salacious literature' left at bus stop

09 April 2024 , 11:29

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A row has broken out in an historic country village after a sex book was left at a bus station book-exchange used by schoolchildren (Image: Roger Arbon/Solent News)

A scandalous row has broken out in na historic UK village after an explicit book about sex was left at a bus station book exchange used by children.

The shocking discovered was identified alongside other more traditional titles such as Ruby Redfort and Thomas the Tank Engine at the local lending library. A dog walker found 'The Art of Sexual Ecstasy' while looking at the shelves in the picturesque village of Pitton, near Salisbury in Wiltshire.

The local does not wish to be named, but had stopped at the exchange place as he saw the book had been left "thoughtlessly" where children come to browse. Only 729 people live in the village, which dates back to Roman times and features homes with quaint thatched roofs, where average house prices are over £600,000.

However locals are in disagreement as to whether the publication - which talks about the importance of Middle Eastern Tantra teachings - should be so available to people of all ages. Speaking after his discovery, the concerned local said: "We have a new bus shelter and during Covid it became a lending library where people could swap jigsaws and books," he said.

Alan Crooks, a resident of Greenwood Avenue, Laverstock (Ollie Thompson/Solent News)

He was outraged when he found Margot Anand's 1989 'The Art of Sexual Ecstasy: The Path of Sacred Sexuality for Western Lovers'. The French author's work highlights the teaching of Tantra - which Police singer's Sting boasted was the reason for long sex sessions with his wife.

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"It's not pornography, it's sort of all about the joy of sex," he continued. "[But] the bus stop is used by local kids, it's a pick up point for local school buses - it just feel inappropriate that people would leave it there. There's nothing wrong with the book in an adult environment, but to leave it somewhere where a youngster might be wanting Thomas the Tank Engine." He said he wanted people to 'think' about what they leave before they 'just leave anything'.

General views of the Pitton village bus stop library (Ollie Thompson/Solent News)

"It's thoughtless rather than malicious," he continued. "The book is all very arty with diagrams and text but I really didn't spend that long looking at it.

"You would probably buy someone it for a wedding present as a best man as a joke." After removing the book and throwing it away, he took his criticism online, where his social media post caused a stir as other residents suggested youngsters would see far worse online. To this, he said: "That's possible. But what they get on their phone is a different thing altogether What if one of those kids was being abused and is already vulnerable?"

A similar incident took place in 2021 in Hurstbourne (Roger Arbon/Solent News)

The communal library, with a copy of 'Hot Blooded' (Roger Arbon/Solent News)

Of the backlash, he said: "I was surprised adults didn't care. If you decide to have that book in your house, that's fine, that's your house. But by leaving it there you are making the decision for other people's parents."

However, Alan Crooks, 71, from nearby Laverstock, said: "I think it's a non-issue. If it was a pornographic with nasty sexual activities then that would be one thing. "It seems a more romantic kind of thing. It doesn't seem as though it's going to be harmful." The former science teacher and grandfather of three said he was more worried about brutal violence youngsters watch and read about.

General views of Pitton village, Hampshire (Ollie Thompson/Solent News)

"I'm much more concerned about graphic violence, bloodshed and gory content on these cops and robbers shows," he added. Bill Richards wrote: "I think the concerns are misplaced. Kids probably saw it and had a good giggle. They know far more about sex than many give them credit for - I understand the intention of the poster but it's not quite the issue they're making it out to be."

Joanna Percival commented: "I think there are people out there who still have little connection to their sexuality and that sometimes a book read at a random time can open doors privately for a stuck person." The row follows a similar incident three years ago just across the county border in the Hampshire village of Hurstbourne Tarrant. Then, the parish council had to plead with residents to stop leaving X-rated books in a new communal library. Councillors complained about 'salacious adult literature' that has been found in a recently converted telephone box.

Charlie Duffield