A massage therapist in East Gippsland was recently jailed for the rape and sexual assault of an elderly client.

The 56 year old massage therapist has been sentenced to 3 years and nine months in jail for the attack on the 80 year client at her home near Lakes Entrance in March this year.

The victim’s daughter had arranged for the home massage as a gift to her mother and now says she feels guilty for arranging the massage.

The man inappropriately touched the elderly woman, kissed and digitally raped her, claiming that he believed it to be consensual at the time.

In August the massage therapist appeared in court, pleading guilty to the charges. He was recently sentenced in the County Court in Morwell. He will be eligible for parole in 2 years and six months.

The victim explained in court how she felt during the attack, being unable to move. She has since been unable to sleep and suffered from depression, now feeling unsafe in her own home, where the attack occurred.

The victim said during the mitigation,

  “Shock and disbelief turned to anger and confusion, turned to sadness and depression,”

“Since I became a victim of rape and sexual assault my life has gone on hold. I feel like a shadow of my former self.

“The nightmares have ceased, but I’ve been left feeling constantly knotted in my stomach.”

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/gippsland-massage-therapist-jailed-for-rape/8128116

The victim’s daughter also expressed to the court how guilty she had felt for organising the massage,

“I have to relive the events that led to this rape,” she said.

“I have to deal with the guilt of calling this man, but I know it’s not my fault.

“It wasn’t me who raped my mother,” she said, turning to face Lee in the docks.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/gippsland-massage-therapist-jailed-for-rape/8128116

Lawyers of the perpetrator asked the judge to spare him jail time because of concerns that he would become depressed and anxious. They also claimed he would become a target in jail due to his stutter. However, prosecutors argued for an immediate custodial sentence and they got their way.

This is just another example of the importance of a police clearance certificate. While we can never be 100 per cent sure that an incident like this will not take place when booking a private massage or similar service, especially at home, it is much safer to engage the services of professionals who come from agencies and companies that have verified their backgrounds.

In addition to checking the professional records of these professionals, the best agencies also run background and police checks to ensure they aren’t risking client’s safety by sending them someone with a criminal history.