York hairdresser Lawton Henry is a cad and a bounder. Today I name and shame the publicity-seeking so-called superstud who spoke of his 200 lovers on Channel 5's One Night Stands last week.

One of his conquests, who I shall call Gretchen because she has already suffered enough because of her association with the scally, revealed all to me...

The bubbly York 28-year-old said: "When I first met Lawton he came across as self-confident, bright, Jack The Lad. There was something about him and he made me laugh.

"But when he bragged about his 200 one night stands in the Evening Press and was subsequently asked to talk about it on telly I felt cheated, dirty and angry. I watched the show on TV with my mother who knew I had been seeing him. She just turned to me and said: 'Gretchen, how could you have ever fallen for a man like that?' I just wanted the living room floor to open up and swallow me.

"I'm only telling you about this because most viewers will think of Lawton as a bit of a loveable rogue. But I'm speaking up for all the other women he has betrayed with his so-called sexual bravado.

"If women go on the box blabbing about their sex life they are called slappers. Well, Lawton is the male version."

She said: "When Channel 5 told him they were to film him on the pull at the ikon & Diva nightspot at Clifton Moor, Lawton rang and asked me to be there just in case he had no success with the available talent that night.

"He didn't want to be filmed without a woman on his arm," said Gretchen. "I wouldn't care, it was all over between us by then. That's a measure of how big-headed he really is.

"Yes, you can have a laugh with him but he has no respect for women whatsoever. His TV performance made me, and probably a lot of other of his women, feel sick and used. I wish I'd never met him."

Gretchen, whose real name and address I am keeping secret, hopes she has laid a few ghosts for her and the sisterhood by coming clean about York's hooray Henry.

Good on ya, girl!

u JUDI from York went to a Dude Ranch during her great American holiday adventure. The cowboy in charge of the horses asked if she wanted a Western or English saddle.

Judi asked: "What's the difference?"

"Well, one has a horn and the other doesn't," said Poncho, the head honcho.

"Just get me the one without a horn. I don't think we'll run into too much traffic out here," drawled Judi.

u Paul Kirkwood of Green Hammerton sent me this: "I had to do a double-take as I cycled along York's Clarence Street the other day.

"Has the premises of my favoured hairdressers, Hair Flicks, been taken over by Betty Brown Wigs? Actually, no.

"The wig shop has set up in business next door. So, if customers ask for their hair to be cut too short it won't take them long to get it back again.

"Just nip next door for a syrup (syrup of fig: wig). A case of hair today, gone tomorrow and back again the next day, I suppose."

Thanks Paul, keep 'em coming even if they are a load of old follicles.

u NEIL Pakey, commercial director of Peel Airports, sounded like a man on the move as he spoke on his mobile to our reporter about his plans for a new international airport which could affect North Yorkshire.

It was clear he wasn't giving the matter his undivided attention. Every couple of minutes he would apologise for the interruption. Then a sound like "whistle-thwok" could be heard above the static followed by a groan.

What's those odd background noises, the hack asked. "I'm taking part in the Northern Travel Trade Golf Day," he revealed.

How are you doing? "Appallingly."

What's your handicap?

"You, actually!"

u PENNY Patel is the new manager at St Catherine's Hospice shop in Ramshill Road, Scarborough. Penny is young and pretty and, of course, most charity shopworkers tend to be, well... er... ladies of a certain age. One customer, an elderly gent took to popping in regularly.

On seeing Penny yet again he remarked: "Makes a change to see one that's fertile."

u WHEN my mate Ian moved to Melbourne, near Pocklington, he decided to sell his car so slapped a For Sale sign inside the back window. He was in his local one evening when a man came up and said he'd seen the sign and was interested in a test drive.

"No time like the present," enthused Ian and agreed to take the prospective buyer for a quick spin.

After they'd driven a few miles, the buyer said: "I live near here. You can drop me off" and gave Ian the route. Two miles later seller, buyer and car rolled up at a large, imposing Victorian building where they were greeted by men in white coats who promptly bundled Ian's passenger inside.

"Thank you. We knew he'd escaped" one said. Ian was greeted by howls of amusement when he got back to the pub.

"I suppose we should have warned you," grinned the landlord.

PICTURE - SANTA'S up a tree and Christmas is getting earlier.

John Benson-Smith, part-owner and chef director at the 1086 Domesday Book-listed Hazlewood Castle Hotel, near Tadcaster, told me: "I know, I know no one likes to be reminded of Christmas in August and September. But time really does fly so we put the 5ft Santa up a tree two weeks ago to remind customers to book their festive parties and meals.

"And it is working," he laughed.

The private hotel with two restaurants and 21 bedrooms has been a Carmelite retreat and maternity unit in previous incarnations.

My friend who is a regular there says "it's quality posh nosh and a perfect setting in the 1086 Restaurant but it is definitely not snobby."

Why not book now for Easter... 3001.