TORONTO - A woman calling herself Canada's most famous dominatrix says the best years of her life were spent spanking and tying up clients in her north Toronto bondage hotel.

Terri-Jean Bedford, whose infamous "bondage bungalow" in Thornhill was raided in 1994, laid out her life story for federal and provincial Crown attorneys Friday as an example of why prostitution should be decriminalized.

"The safest and happiest period in my life was when I was up in Thornhill, running the (bondage) service from my house," she said.

"I just want them to know that indoors is much safe from outdoors, from my own experiences."

Despite sweltering weather, the 48-year-old Bedford - who calls herself Madame deSade - donned leather from head-to-toe for her anticipated pretrial examination, part of her bid with two other sex workers to strike down three provisions of the Criminal Code dealing with sex work. Along with Osgoode Hall law professor Alan Young, she and the others filed a constitutional challenge last year with Ontario Superior Court.

"(I want to) seek justice not only for myself, but for all the women who are being hurt on a daily basis," Bedford said. "Hurt, murdered, raped, tortured - all because of the Canadian laws."

Although Bedford invited media to the examination, Young turned the proceedings private when the presence of reporters surprised the Crown. He decided to continue privately rather than adjourn because he said unlike Bedford, future witnesses might oppose appearing in the public eye.

But Young said the challenge has nothing to do with the morality of prostitution.

"You can't in the same breath say something is legal and then prohibit (people) from conducting (their) business in safe settings."

After the examination, Bedford told reporters she drew contrasts between the drug addiction and gang rapes she endured while streetwalking in her youth with the security she found helping men act out their sexual fantasies at her bed and breakfast.

"I've done everything imaginable, so I have a bird's eye view of the situation," she said. "The violence, the money, the revenue, there's a lot of goods and bads of the trade, and I hope to shed some light on it."

Working the streets puts women's lives in danger, but they gain control when practising their profession in an indoor environment with security guards and other safety measures, she said.

"If we're able to legalize (the law) to a degree, I think the people that go see prostitutes will be more likely to go to the legal houses rather than visit an underground den of prostitution."

But not everyone agrees decriminalization is the best course of action, said Anastasia Kuzyk, a spokeswoman for the Sex Workers Alliance of Toronto. While the group supports sex work moving towards decriminalization, they're concerned a gap could open for the federal Conservative government to introduce even tougher laws.

"There's no guarantee we will end up with decriminalization," she said. "These people going to court. What are their plans to ensure no more draconian laws?

"Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it."

She also felt the team mounting the challenge was too exclusive, and hadn't consulted enough actual sex workers.

Bedford, who has hepatitis C and a deteriorating spine, hasn't been playing the domination game lately. Still, she's charging forward with the cause.

"Tax dollars should go to funding programs for people who have been affected negatively (by sex work)," she said. "Maybe I can be a role model to let them know, you can rise up above."

For the purposes of a brief trial, all evidence will be presented through cross-examination of affidavits until the end of the year. Federal lawyers will call 33 witnesses, while the plaintiffs have 22. A trial is expected in early 2009.