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A billboard poster for Ann Summers has been banned after complaints it was degrading to women.
The offending advert, displayed in the North West, showed the back of a woman's torso, from her shoulders to her thighs. She was wearing a bra and a thong and her hands were handcuffed behind her back.
Alongside the photograph were the words: "Lancashire hotbot...for fashion and passion whip along to your local store."
The advert sparked 22 complaints from Lancashire to the Advertising Standards Agency (FSA).
Surrey-based Ann Summers claimed its adverts "intended to give women sexual confidence and always showed women in control of their sexuality".
The company also pointed out its support for charities campaigning against domestic violence.
The ASA, after an investigation, rejected complaints that the photograph was likely to incite violence towards women but ruled it was degrading for women, was likely to cause "serious or widespread offence" and was unsuitable for use on a poster.
However, it dismissed complaints about a second Ann Summers poster used in Ipswich which featured a photograph of a woman sitting down with her legs apart and a whip in her hand with the slogan "Whipswich...for fashion and passion whip along to your local store".
The offending advert, displayed in the North West, showed the back of a woman's torso, from her shoulders to her thighs. She was wearing a bra and a thong and her hands were handcuffed behind her back.
Alongside the photograph were the words: "Lancashire hotbot...for fashion and passion whip along to your local store."
The advert sparked 22 complaints from Lancashire to the Advertising Standards Agency (FSA).
Surrey-based Ann Summers claimed its adverts "intended to give women sexual confidence and always showed women in control of their sexuality".
The company also pointed out its support for charities campaigning against domestic violence.
The ASA, after an investigation, rejected complaints that the photograph was likely to incite violence towards women but ruled it was degrading for women, was likely to cause "serious or widespread offence" and was unsuitable for use on a poster.
However, it dismissed complaints about a second Ann Summers poster used in Ipswich which featured a photograph of a woman sitting down with her legs apart and a whip in her hand with the slogan "Whipswich...for fashion and passion whip along to your local store".
