Former magazine editor in sting

A former magazine editor has been exposed in a hidden-camera sting luring a young woman into his bedroom - all under the pretence of a photo shoot.

Lee Davis, former editor of FHM New Zealand, was filmed by television programme Stakeout as part of a wider look at suspect practices in the modelling industry.

The programme reveals the questionable - but not illegal - behaviour of several people involved in the industry, with much of the hour-long show devoted to Davis.

Posing as a model, an actress hired by Stakeout contacted Davis and asked how she would go about appearing in FHM. Davis suggested she come to his Whangaparaoa home for a "photo shoot".

Armed with a hidden camera, the woman arrived at Davis' home and was led upstairs to his bedroom. He presented her with a suitcase filled with lingerie, suggesting outfits she could wear during the shoot.

He said he would show the photographs to a FHM photographer who would consider them for publication.

At the end of the shoot, Davis - who is not a professional photographer - suggested they have another session at her place, but this time she should invite a friend.

For the second "photo shoot" the actress, again armed with a hidden camera, was accompanied by a 16-year-old actor, hired by Stakeout.

Davis told the pair the photos would again be looked at for FHM. He offered to pay them $100 each. When the woman asked what happened to the photos from the earlier shoot Davis said he had forgotten to show them to a photographer.

The footage then shows the two women being placed in a series of compromising positions, with Davis encouraging them to shed clothes and become progressively more intimate. The pair agreed to pose in a semi-provocative way, but declined Davis' request to remove their clothes, or kiss each other.

Then Davis explained to the two young women that he was planning to start a "fetish website" and the pictures might be used there.

At that point Davis detected the hidden camera, confronted the pair, left the house and drove away.

Such behaviour was completely out of line with the standards of the industry, according to Clyne Model Management director Kim Larking.

"In any professional modelling assignment you will have a photographer, a photographer's assistant, hair and makeup artist, a stylist and potentially an art director. You've got a professional team there."

Problems occurred when girls were naive and didn't have the backup of an agency or parent, he said.

"When it's non-consenting, this is the issue. Basically it's an abuse-of-power situation and it's false pretences. It's luring someone to do something they might not necessarily want to do - it should not be an intimate situation."

Attempts to contact Davis by Stakeout and the Herald on Sunday have so far proved fruitless.

Davis has worked previously at Truth newspaper and Brass magazine.

Stakeout presenter Martin "Bomber" Bradbury said the show highlighted the dangers of the modelling industry.

Mr Larking said models needed to use their instincts whenever they were alone with a photographer or felt they were being placed in a compromising situation.

"If there's ever a situation where you feel something is not right, 99 times out of 100 it won't be. If it were me I'd walk out of there and I'd recommend anyone to do that."

This was not the first time questions had been raised about Davis' behaviour. David Gray, current editor of Brass magazine, said eyebrows were raised over Davis' conduct when in charge of Brass.

"There seemed to be a constant parade of young models up to his office and we wondered whether he actually got any work done," Mr Gray said. "I assume he was interviewing them but there seemed to be an extraordinary number of girls going up to his office constantly. We remarked about it a few times."

FHM Australia clearly stated on the programme it did not endorse Davis' behaviour and was not aware of his actions. Davis had not been employed by the company since December last year.

Stakeout screens on Thursday night at 8.30 on TV3.