A masseur accused of sexually assaulting a number of women across Brisbane and Queensland’s central coast has been charged as police ask other possible victims to come forward.
It is understood the Morooka man, 67, worked across a number of massage and chiropractic businesses in Hervey Bay and Maryborough between 2000 and 2012 and in then Brisbane up until 2016.
Police Superintendent Tony Fleming said it was believed the man worked from a home-based business in Hervey Bay from 2005 to 2012 and likely established his business either through leaflets, local ads or word of mouth.
“(He offered) remedial style massage and we will allege that the behaviour exceeded what you would normally expect in a remedial massage,” he said.
"There is no ambiguity about this behaviour."
Police have alleged he indecently assaulted numerous women during massage treatments.
Superintendent Fleming said it was likely there could be more victims.
“More than 10 victims have been identified,” he said.
“If you have concerns please contact us...we are not going to force someone to make a complaint...but in the course of this type of behaviour, if someone is sitting at home and they feel that they have been victimised, there are support services out there.
“It is one of those things that if it comes to light we are in a position where we can help those people.”
Superintendent Fleming said “some information” was known to police in the past and was fully investigated but no action was taken “for a number of reasons, including the wishes of the victim”.
He said police received further information relating to the accused in 2016.
“The previous knowledge and the actions of the investigators is that they then, subsequently based on a complaint, uncovered more victims,” he said.
The man was described as looking younger than his age, between 50 to 65, with long grey hair which he wore in a ponytail.
On Thursday, detectives charged the man with two counts of rape and seven counts of sexual assault.
He appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Thursday where bail was refused. He was remanded in custody until March 2018 for a committal mention.
- The story “Brisbane masseur accused of sexually assaulting customers” first appeared on Brisbane Times
