The dominatrix of Downing Street

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Swinger: Respected volunteer Erica Tate dressed for work as a dominatrix

Beaming proudly as she stood alongside Cherie Blair in Downing Street, Erica Tate appeared every inch a model of respectability as she was honoured for her voluntary work.

But the 43-year-old mother of one, who was also pictured with the Prime Minister, has made another contribution to society - although this one is very unlikely to earn her praise from No 10.

Working under the names The Black Goddess or Goddess Riki, Mrs Tate is a dominatrix who organises sex parties for couples hoping to indulge in so-called 'swinging' sessions.

She was invited to No 10 last week in recognition of her devotion to a South London charity where she offers training in web design.

But she has also used those internet skills to set up a series of adult websites, including one titled Erotic Intent on which she invites people to meet her for "adult fun" at parties where "intimate encounters, dogging and group fun" are on offer.

On her page on the MySpace site, Mrs Tate writes: "I am an active swinger and Goddess on the fetish circuit and have been for about ten years.

"Swinging is about getting away from the sexual normalities.

"So enjoy yourselves, meet new people, try to find out your sexual fantasies."

"I am a sexy dominatrix who is confident and experienced in BDSM (bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism).

"I know I am worthy of the uppermost admiration, I am a hedonist, a social butterfly.

"I would make an excellent companion, I have flowing conversation, am kinky, perverted, large and seductively curvy, I hope all this grabs your interest?'

Mrs Tate was nominated to attend Tuesday's event by staff at the Clapham Park Time Bank in South London, where she exchanges her web design and art skills for services provided by others.

She and 150 other "unsung heroes" from around the country were given a tour of No 10 and praised by Tony Blair for their volunteer efforts.

Mrs Tate shook the Prime Minister's hand, presented him with a book and discussed the Time Bank project with him and Mrs Blair.

Divorcee Mrs Tate, who lives in Brixton, South London, confirmed: "The Goddess thing is what I've done for years.

"It's not something I'm ashamed of, most of my family know about it.

"My philosophy is that I do what I want to enjoy myself and I also make sure my community is a good place to live in. This doesn't affect my volunteering work."

Mrs Tate even said that she learned web design skills through making her Black Goddess site.

"I've transferred what I've learned from that to help other people," she said.

And of her visit to Downing Street, she said: "We were the first people Tony Blair spoke to.

"He asked us about Time Banks and how long we'd been doing it.

"Then I presented him with a book about volunteering.

"He gave a speech thanking us. Cherie spent more time with the volunteers, meeting and greeting and posing for pictures.

"She was very interested in what we'd been doing."

Mrs Tate added that because of health problems she no longer hosts sex parties, instead preferring to introduce people to others on the scene.

"I meet people just to have a chat. I suppose I'm an ambassador for it - to say we're not scary people, we're quite normal.

"People who enjoy themselves in an adult way come from all walks of life."

She said she had been nominated to go to Downing Street by the two co-ordinators of her local Time Bank, which is funded mainly by the Government's New Deal for Communities and managed by the South London And Maudsley NHS Trust.

Time Banks are organisations that give volunteers credits for each hour they spend teaching their skills to members of their community.

They can then 'spend' their credits on obtaining services, ranging from education to household maintenance, from others in the group.

A Downing Street spokeswoman would not comment on individuals at the reception but added: "We do not draw up the guest list.

It is drawn up by the charities whose work is being honoured."

Asked if Mrs Tate's background was checked beforehand, she added: "We don't discuss the vetting process for security reasons."

 

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