Neighbour made me feel awkward and uncomfortable

Why do you still think you need to explain yourself to him?!

OP, you need to develop a tougher skin and stand up for yourself, for the sake of your child and yourself. You are acting like a concussed duckling.

OP, a previous poster may have mentioned, but it's your neighbour who should feel awkward if he sits in his van all day. What a saddo.
He's obviously bad minded, just live your life and ignore him.

Just ignore him and I'm sure he will get bored

I used to have a male dog walker, three male lodgers who had mates and a boyfriend and my neighbour reported me for running a brothel.

I had quite an amusing visit from the police 🙄🙄

OP tackle him head on next time he mentions brothels by saying if you think there’s a brothel on this street you need to ring the police and I’m sure all of us in the street will back you up with a complaint.
That should shut him up

Keep the peace. Be polite.

Not advice, just words I've picked up from your posts, OP. The guy is obviously bothering you.

It pisses me off women feel they have to behave like this.

Does sitting in his van give him a better view of your house?

If so, it's time to get proactive. Cameras. As many as you can afford. It's too late to catch the guy walking in your garden as observed by him but it'll catch anyone else. Even your neighbour if they go up without him noticing. They might make you feel a little safer and you can check he's not in his van if you need to leave the house.

I'm currently watching the ITV documentary about stalking. I've had one in the form of my ex (I still live under the threat of him but at least he doesn't actively stalk me any more). I'm over-sensitive to anything like this so my apologies if I come over a bit strong, but there's no harm in cameras on your property. Mine's provided a lot of entertainment from my garden birds and my daft dog.

I think it’s inspired, hiding your drugs in a piano!

What a horrible man.
And what a surprise, it's the woman he's taking it up with. As opposed to, you know, one of your male 'clients' ... because there absolutely HAS to be something sexual going on, right?!
Hope you're ok and try not to let the arsehole stress you out

Ignore him and continue. He obviously has a one track mind.

Please get a ring camera to check if he’s lurking around ☹️

I'd have said actually you are correct there, it is none of your business, and stood and watched his reaction, then mentioned oh your brother is also a solicitor, he is very sue for slander happy, if he got wind you thought I was running a brother ( which actually is incorrect as that involves more than one woman on the premises) then he would haul you into court faster than you could spell the word brothel..

I know you say it’s just who you are, but you can learn to be more assertive and you’d benefit from that. It will also help you to teach your child to be the same. Taking the plunge and learning to stand up for yourself will help you so much. It isn’t easy, but I did it and I’m so glad I did.
Otherwise you’ll go through life getting as distressed as this whenever there’s a difficult encounter.
You’re misunderstanding “confrontation” a bit I think. He is the one who is being confrontational. If you quietly but firmly correct him, that isn’t being confrontational, it’s just a normal level of standing up for yourself.

@JohnSt1 I've always wanted a grand piano but obviously should have taken up crime - your local low-lifes are much more cultured than mine!

Two words for him, second one is off

It's highly unlikely that this man would report you to social care and even if he did, unlikely they would take action. And if they did, there is no evidence to prove it because you aren't running a brothel. So try not to worry about that aspect. Basically social care can't act without evidence and even when things ARE going on, the parents often lie and tell their children what to say / what not to say. (Yes I'm a safeguarding lead in a school).

I'd be more interested in why he is always sitting in a van. I wouldn't have a clue if any of my neighbours have many different visitors, male or otherwise, since I haven't got the time for or interest in checking up on them.

He sounds creepy. I'd have laughed if he mentioned a brothel to me or made a joke about it.

Don't go seeking him out but prepare yourself with a comment you can make back if he speaks to you again. Eg a 'sorry I haven't time to chat' type of thing or, if you are feeling bolder, 'sorry, I'm not sure what it's got to do with you'.

If you feel he's watching you / stalking, call the police.

I have a nosey neighbour like that, but across the road. He sits looking out the window. I got a large grand piano delivered once, and when it was being unloaded I could hear them calling to each other like jungle creatures (crossed with Ena Sharples from Coronation Street). I didn't realise there was more than one of them.

The piano was ancient and cheap -but they didn't know that. I'm sure they were speculating about where the money came from. The gossips tend to have minds like sewers. I wonder if they have me down as a drug dealer or a pimp. 🤔

I would also write down in as much detail what he said, what time it was etc etc just in case he says anything again, write it down while you remember it all including how you feel

You aren’t a prostitute . You don’t run a brothel, and you have not done anything wrong. He’s not your sort of person because he is creepy and rude. Be briskly polite if you have to talk to him. I’m a lot older and don’t have anxiety and I have had a creepy neighbour. It’s oppressive but you need to just get on with it.

Just ignore him.

Some men just can't cope with the idea that women can be friends with men. I remember when I was at uni, one of the lab techs making some wink-wink style comment about "all your men". He'd met my fiance, my brother and someone else on the same course. That was it, three men in two months, one of whom was a blood relative (and he knew this!) and it was worth a comment. Blegh.
You don't need to explain yourself to him more than you already have

You NEVER have to explain yourself to anyone, let alone some nosy wanker who lives next door. Fuck him. Dont explain as that will look even weirder. What helps in situations like this is to force people to describe exactly what they mean.

People like this get off on making snide comments that are intended to hurt without actually saying it. If he does it again, I would say "what do you mean brothel?" "are you implying I am running a brothel simply because someone who is male came to visit me- is that what you are stating? keep saying it until he either backs off or comes out with it. Forcing him to verbalise his nastiness works because people like this get off on being passive aggressive and not owning what they say. Making him say it out loud will make him sound utterly ridiculous.