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'I was a child genius'

When Sufiah Yosuf won a place at Oxford University at the age of just 13, she made headlines around the world. She’d amazed academics with her incredible flair for maths and her parents Halimahton and Farooq, both 50, had hopes of her pursuing a high-flying career.

Now, 10 years later, Sufiah is back in the limelight for very different reasons. In a newspaper exposé, the former Muslim was revealed as a £130-an-hour prostitute. She now sees between five and 10 men each week, who shower her with gifts and expensive holidays.

But quietly spoken Sufiah, 23, reveals to Closer that she’s totally unashamed of her chosen career saying: “I don’t see it as a terrible thing. It’s something I drifted into by chance. I never judged girls who worked as escorts and was always fascinated by it. There is this huge stigma attached to escorting but I don’t see it like that.”

'My dad was violent on occasions'

As a girl growing up in Coventry, Sufiah stood out from other children her age. She and her siblings Noriasha and Iskander were all home-educated by their strict father but Sufiah’s view of her upbringing is far from idyllic. She reveals how her father, who was jailed earlier this year for sexually assaulting two 15-year-old girls, subjected her to a strict Accelerated Learning Technique. Shockingly, she’d regularly be forced to study in the freezing cold to aid her concentration.

Sufiah passed her maths A-level aged 12, and at 13 she went to Oxford University to study the subject. Her father accompanied her and continued to push her to study. “I lived in Oxford with my father during term-time and in the holidays we’d go home. My age meant I was quite isolated from the rest of the students and it was difficult to make friends.

“My dad was violent on occasions and we’d have heated arguments where he’d attack me. Because he pushed me so far academically, I grew up quicker than I should have, so by the time I was 15, I felt very independent.”

Runaway

So, when her father began talking about her having an arranged marriage, she fought back.
At 15, Sufiah sparked a two-week nationwide police hunt when she ran away from university. Sufiah recalls: “I’d had enough so I ran away.” Her father claimed members of a socialist organisation at uni had brainwashed her and kidnapped her. She sent an email to her family, calling her father “bullying and controlling,” and said: “I’ve finally had enough of 15 years of physical and emotional abuse.”

She says: “I’d saved up £200 and found a place in a hostel in London for £14 per night. After a week I moved to Bournemouth where my hostel was only £11 per night.”

When she was found Sufiah refused to go home and was placed in foster care. At 18, Sufiah returned to Oxford University to continue her studies. There she met her husband, Jonathan Marshall, and fell in love. They got married a year later but separated after 12 months.

She says: “I was so happy, but we married young and grew apart. Things are amicable between us, though, and I am happy that Jonathan has met another girl.”

But her ex-husband was surprised to discover Sufiah was a prostitute. He said: “It’s very shocking that someone can use themselves in that way.”

After splitting with Jonathan, Sufiah moved to Manchester to study for a Masters in Economics. Worried sick about her large debts, she started to look into ways of making money. She says: “Somebody asked me if I’d ever considered being an escort and it made me think.”

“I had run up debts of £3,500 in rent arrears and credit cards and thought it could be a short-term measure to pay them off. I found an escort agency on the internet that I thought looked professional and rang them. They asked if I knew what it would involve and talked to me about security and the steps they would take to ensure my safety. I sent them some photographs and they put me on their site.”

A couple of days later Sufiah’s agency boss called to offer her a client. Sufiah says: “I felt quite nervous, but excited too. I put on some black lace underwear and a grey dress, and just thought: ‘Wow, this is thrilling.’ I’d never been massively experienced when it comes to sex, but it was exciting knowing I’d be meeting a guy and then having sex with him.

“When I got to the Hilton Hotel he was waiting for me at the bar. He was in his late 20s in a smart suit and was tall and handsome. We had a drink, then went upstairs to his room. He was nervous, which made me feel more confident and in control. We talked for a while, then had fantastic sex. I remember leaving that night feeling totally elated, with £250 in my purse.

I felt like Julie Roberts in Pretty Woman

Since then, Sufiah has built up a base of regular clients. She is adamant there are no dangers of catching STDs or encountering violent clients. She says many of them treat her to fabulous clothes, designer bags and trips on yachts. She boasts she can earn more than £1,000 a night by having dinner with a client and staying the night.

“My clients treat me like a princess,” she says. “Once I had a client in his 40s who loved me to recite equations as he pleasured me. He was my perfect man!

“One guy I see loves treating me. I went to stay with him and he took me shopping. He bought me a black Gucci dress and handbag. I’m normally a Primark and Topshop girl – I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman!”

Although Sufiah has an amazing size 8 figure, she says it’s purely down to the amount of sex she has. She says: “I don’t exercise or diet – it’s just sex that keeps me fit.”

Sufiah admits she probably won’t be an escort forever but she’s happy with her life at the moment. She says: “I’m still young and I can’t decide on what I want to do in the future. My escorting work provides me with a fabulous life and I don’t want to give it up just yet.”
 “I have a nice life – I don’t want for anything and I’m in control. I haven’t had much freedom in my life and I’m enjoying it.”

Talking about her bitter split with her parents, she adds: “I’d describe our relationship as estranged – it has been since I was 15. I have occasional contact with them. “I honestly couldn’t speculate on what they’ll make of my new life. But I really don’t have any regrets.” 

 Closer’s sexpert and agony aunt Tracey Cox says: “Sufiah may think it’s a great lifestyle now but it comes at a price. Sex is a very intimate act that we usually do with people we love or are very fond of. It’s a strong person who can distance themselves from this. She’s obviously good at controlling and shutting off her emotions.”

By Sara Nuwar and Rachel Spencer