Masseur case: last two testify

Six women have given evidence against a Hamilton massage therapist who they allege indecently assaulted them.

The last two complainants gave evidence at the Hamilton District Court yesterday.

Keith Ashley Dobson, a Rototuna-based masseur, is facing 11 charges of indecent assault on the women – all former clients.

The former military officer denies anything indecent went on and any touching he did do was legitimate for his massage therapy.

One complainant, who was cross-examined yesterday morning, had 17 massages with Dobson without incident.

But at the 18th and final visit, in November 2015, she alleged Dobson slid his hands down between her breasts while she was on her back on the massage table.

Defence lawyer Mark Sturm said the technique was part of a Roman massage.

He suggested the woman had previously had this massage done before and it was OK for Dobson to perform it again.

‘‘Absolutely not. I don’t know why [Dobson] thought that, it will take a medical professional to explain that,’’ the complainant said.

Dobson allegedly apologised to the woman and said he thought it was OK.

‘‘I told him [that] this is my body and this is a relationship of trust.’’

The fifth complainant said she went to Dobson for a sports massage in early 2016. She removed all clothing and put on a pair of disposable underwear.

She said that while she was on the massage table, Dobson told her about a client of his who was paralysed.

Dobson allegedly told the woman that he would do whatever it took to make his clients happy and had scratched an itch on the inner thigh of his paralysed client.

While telling the story, he demonstrated on the complainant’s body the place where he scratched the itch.

He then allegedly scratched the woman’s genital area.

‘‘I was shocked,’’ she said.

‘‘I didn’t do or say anything as I was in a state of disbelief.

‘‘He did it in such a way that it happened so quickly, that I wasn’t sure what to do.

‘‘The pressure of his fingers between the [polar] fleece [blanket] is what I felt.’’

Dobson then started massaging the upper part of the woman’s body.

‘‘I had my eyes closed … he moved the blanket down and put the towel over my breast area … while he was massaging, it didn’t feel like that area was covered.

‘‘By the time I worked up the courage to say something, the massage had finished.’’

Sturm rattled through 15 separate instances that the complainant mentioned during her evidence.

He asked the complainant if she agreed she felt dissatisfied, to which she replied, ‘‘I would call it disturbed.’’

‘‘You knew another adult was there, why didn’t you say anything?’’ Sturm asked.

‘‘You knew his wife was there. ‘‘Why didn’t you tell the female client [who came in after you]?’’

‘‘I didn’t warn her and it’s something I will feel bad about for the rest of my life,’’ the complainant said.

‘‘My client would say that you’ve grossly distorted your experience with the benefit of hindsight,’’ Sturm replied.

The trial was initially set down for four days but is now expected to finish on Tuesday.

The defence will call their witnesses today.