Desmond to sell porn magazines

RICHARD DESMOND, whose Northern & Shell company bought Express Newspapers for 125million at the end of last year, is seeking a buyer for his pornographic magazines, writes Richard Allen.

The sale would raise much needed cash to invest in the Express titles. Mr Desmond borrowed 97 million to acquire the newspaper group and has indulged in savage cost cutting since taking over.

But it also appeared a clear attempt by Mr Desmond to distance himself from his pornography business, which has been the focus of criticism since he took control of the Express with MPs questioning his fitness to run newspapers.

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