63-year-old Masseur Sentenced to Ten-and-a-half Years In Jail For Sexual Assaults

A 63-year-old Australian masseur has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail for sexually assaulting ten of his clients, including a pregnant woman. The incidents took place between November 2006 and August 2007, police said.

Peter Charles Brennan indecently touched the women on the vagina and breasts during massages at the Serenity and Tranquillity Health Care and Day Spa centre in Ballarat, Victoria between November 2006 and August 2007.

The court heard that when Brennan began work at the centre in January 2006 he was told to avoid massaging intimate areas such as the breasts and groin.

After working at the centre for less than a year, Brennan asked women to remove their underpants and he touched their genitals, the court heard.

Brennan told another woman massaging her breasts was good for her asthma.

He also inappropriately massaged a woman who had recently undergone a hysterectomy and a pregnant woman, the court heard.

Brennan, a single father-of-three who had previously worked as a masseur for sporting teams, had no prior criminal convictions.

A County Court jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and 16 counts of indecent assault.

He was jailed for 10-and-a-half years today by Judge Leslie Ross.

In sentencing him, Judge Ross said Brennan's actions made the pregnant woman fear for the safety of her unborn child.

He said the victims endured nightmares, loss of self-esteem and relationship difficulties as a result of the sexual molestation.

"It is beyond question that in various ways your conduct has adversely affected the lives of your victims,'' he said.

Judge Ross said the owner of the health centre was also a victim of Brennan's offending because a rock had been thrown through a window of the business after the allegations were made public.

Some of Brennan's victims watched the sentencing in Ballarat via video link, the Courier reported.



Source-Medindia
GPL