VIDEO A madam who runs a remedial therapy parlour in Ipswich said her staff are so scared about the prostitute murders that many of them have quit or refused to come into work.

A MADAM who runs a remedial therapy parlour in Ipswich said her staff are so scared about the prostitute murders that many of them have quit or refused to come into work.

Katie, who owns Aquarius, in St Helen's Street, said she was devastated to hear a fourth and fifth body had been found.

She described it as an extremely worrying time for women in her profession and said she could understand why many women just want to steer clear.

She said: “It is just sick. The whole thing is awful and the news that two more have been found makes me feel really scared.

“We have not had a single girl turn up for work tonight and three of the girls who work here quit their jobs today.

“I can understand their fear and don't blame them but it has to be business as usual for me as I have bills to pay.”

She described how business at her parlour had started to tail off as soon as Tania Nicol disappeared.

The parlour has been open for four years although Katie only took over the business in May last year.

Before then Mark, owned the business and with the onset of the terrifying murder investigation he has now come back to lend his support.

He said: “One murder is too many but we are probably talking about five now. It is very scary for the women.

“We get all kinds of men coming in here. We check they are not drunk or acting strangely before they are allowed in.”

The parlour runs from 10am to midnight every day but Mark said they would be happy to offer the premises to street walkers so they did not have to work outside where it is dangerous.

And one Ipswich prostitute today told how her husband is so afraid for her life that he has forbidden her from going out at night.

The woman, who wishes to be known as Kelly, works from Mystery Moments - a brothel based in a residential part of the town.

She said: “Any death of a prostitute in the town is obviously very worrying for me but the amount of girls who are missing or have been found dead have made things even worse.

“I am scared and my mind has been running away with me about who it might be and what situation I might find myself in.

“I am not allowed to go out at night anymore because of the attacks - my husband won't let me.”

Kelly said she knew Tania Nicol and worked with the teenager about a year ago at another brothel in the town.

She said: “She was a lovely girl, very bubbly and friendly.

“She would have helped everybody is she could.

“We lost contact when I stopped working there but I was very sad to hear what happened to her.”

n. Are you a prostitute who is still working in the town? Contact The Evening Star news desk on 01473 324788 or email starnews@eveningstar.co.uk