Masseur jailed over sex assaults on clients

A PROFESSIONAL masseur has been jailed for a year after being found guilty of sexually assaulting women as he massaged them.

Carlos Vasquez, 32, denied two counts of sexual assault, but was convicted by a jury following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

In a victim personal statement read out in court, one of the women said: “I think about it daily – how he treated my body like his personal possession.”

The court heard the incidents occurred in April and July last year.

Owen Williams, prosecuting, said the defendant targeted the two women because he “thought he could get away with it”.

One victim said the incident had left her feeling “worried” and “anxious” and put strain on her personal relationships.

Prosecutors argued aggravating factors included the fact one of the incidents took place in a victim’s home.

The court heard the defendant tried to persuade one of the women to recommend him to a female colleague.

Vasquez, from Watson Road in Llandaff, who stood in the dock with a Spanish interpreter, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.

Ruth Smith, defending, stressed her client had no previous convictions, but accepted he “over-stepped boundaries”.

She told the court he was a “devoted father” and moved to the UK to find work in order to support his family.

Vasquez was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.