A bouncer has been told he faces imprisonment for blackmailing a businessman over a non-existent stripper.

Warren Fitzgerald was promised a �5 bargain strip show but was charged �295 for sitting with a hostess, which was increased to �430 when he was told he had made her angry.

Alexei Eskine, 28, of Slough, Berkshire, who worked as a bouncer at the London club, forced Mr Fitzgerald to hand over the money.

Eskine, who was convicted of one count of blackmail on 2 September last year, was told at London's Southwark Crown Court on Monday that the seriousness of the offence meant prison was almost certain.

Strip offer

Recorder Jeffrey Pegden QC remanded the amateur hockey player in custody until next month for pre-sentence reports.

Mr Fitzgerald had told the court he had been passing the Kioko strip club in Soho when he was asked if he wanted to "watch a girl strip for �5".

He agreed and entered the club but there was no stripper and after a few minutes he was presented with a bill for �430.

When he protested, six-footer Eskine warned him it would be "foolish to try and do anything" and ordered him to take his wallet out.

'Horrible situation'

He promptly obeyed, was relieved of �30 and, after his credit card details had been noted, he was forced to sign the bill.

"They made it clear they had locked the front door and I could not escape if I wanted to," he told the court.

"It was really unpleasant. It was a horrible situation to be in."

Minutes later, as he was escorted to a nearby cashpoint to pay the balance, he fled.

Eskine, a Russian national, denied asking the businessman for money or threatening him.