THE Scottish woman dubbed the "Soccer Mom Madam" after she was arrested for running a prostitution ring in New York has spoken out for the first time since being spared a drawn-out trial.
Anna Gristina, originally from Kirkliston, outside Edinburgh, allegedly made a fortune supplying high-class prostitutes in New York City, the details of which were never aired in court as she struck a plea deal after admitting one minor count of promoting prostitution.
The 46-year-old said it was the need of money to look after her four children that forced her to become, what she calls, "Bad Barbie" and lead a life involved in the sex trade. She added that it was only when the children were 18 that she informed them of her actions.
She said: "I sat them down and said that I introduce very rich people to other people and I make a fee - and it's a grey area.
"They were pretty accepting of it. I never had this around the children - my mobile phone would ring, I would get a few calls or texts and that would be it. They knew me as a mum who picks them up from school."
Gristina claimed from the start that she was running a high-end dating service. She denies making the £6 million prosecutors claimed.
The alleged madam revealed how it all began when she met a high-profile New York attorney, who would ask her if she knew any friends who could entertain associates of his.
Gristina now lives on a 300-acre farm in upstate New York with third husband Kelvin Gorr and son Nicholas. She also said she wouldn't rule out a return to the UK.
"If the right job with good money came up in Scotland, I would take it," she said.
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