It’s 4am in a packed Parisian nightclub in 2007, the music is pumping, and I am surrounded by dozens of scantily-clad women all writhing furiously.

It’s quite the end to a journalistic assignment but you can’t say I haven’t been warned. Just hours before I’d interviewed P Diddy in the French capital during which he bragged: “There is no party like a Diddy party.”

Only now and with the rapper languishing in prison, do the words have a sinister quality. But back then it was a great soundbite that made me laugh.

And I vividly remember thinking he was true to his word, as sitting regal-like in the corner of the club, Diddy generously sent over endless magnums of champagne to my table.

Diddy is currently in prison awaiting trial ( Image: Getty Images for Sean Diddy Combs)
“These are on Diddy..he wants you to have a good night,” said a member of his entourage who had invited me along as the rapper enjoyed our chat.

I’m in a tiny VIP room which is filled to the brim with women specially hand-picked by Diddy’s entourage. Some are from the club itself, others have been transported by his team from the earlier show. As I quaff glass after glass of the finest bubbles, my evening takes a strange turn as, at one point, a stray foot brushes my face.

A woman – minus her heels – is being lifted over the throng by two burly members of security and plonked down by Diddy’s side where she proceeds to gyrate energetically next to him. I’ll never forget his partner Kim, who has since passed away, sitting by his side, and seemingly unperturbed by the X-rated scene unfolding before her.

The Mirror’s Tom Bryant ( Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
It was pretty bizarre stuff. But not out of keeping with what transpired earlier that evening when I found myself in Diddy’s dressing room at the Bercy Stadium. With full-size portraits of him hanging on the wall and candles flickering, my interview began on a romantic note.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with Kim in Paris,” he told us. “And it’s been perfect. As soon as we landed, we went straight to the Eiffel Tower, drank champagne at the top and just kissed and kissed.”

But Diddy was only getting started. “Then we went up to my suite and had tantric sex for at least 30 hours, ordering up whipped cream and strawberries while we were at it.” Diddy, real name Sean John Combs, added: “As meticulous as I am with my work, I’m more meticulous with lovemaking. I like to do it for a long time.”

Diddy was denied bail despite offering US$50million ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Later I ask him about his famous parties. “We don’t charge £4,000 to come to my parties. We give money away, we give drinks away, we give fine food away,” he says.

“I lose a lot of money putting on these events – but I don’t care. There’s always a special guest list with iconic individuals mixing people from showbusiness and everyday life. Most British superstars will find it hard to get into any party that I throw.”

After partying that night in Paris, he was back at it again the following week but in London, with guests including Sienna Miller. He added: “I’m not a name-dropper. I never reveal who goes to my parties. The important thing is that they have a good time. And with all the beautiful women and fine champagne they probably will.”

As Diddy awaits trial, they are words which he may come to regret…