Dalgety Bay massage therapist sentenced for sexually assaulting customer at home

A DALGETY BAY man, who set up a massage therapy business in his home, has been sentenced for sexually assaulted a female customer there.

The victim was one of the first clients to visit the home of Mark Robertson.

The massage session was brought to a premature halt when 32-year-old Robertson touched her breast with his mouth.

Robertson, of Seafire Place, claimed the contact was accidental but his version of events was found to be “not plausible” by a sheriff. Robertson was convicted after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and he returned there to be sentenced.

He was found guilty of a charge that on February 9 at his home he sexually assaulted a woman by touching her breast with his mouth.

The victim was 24 years old and had gone to Robertson’s home where he had started running a part-time massage business.

The court was told he had only had around “five to ten” massage customers before this incident and none since.

In her evidence, the woman was highly critical of Robertson’s massage skills.

However, matters took a more sinister turn when Robertson touched her exposed breast with his mouth.

Robertson claimed during the trial that the contact had been with the side of his face, that it had been a complete accident, and he had apologised to her.

He said the woman did not want the massage to continue and he handed back her money.

At sentencing, defence solicitor David McLaughlin said: “He has lost his job with a good company and which would have provided a good career.

“Difficulties in his marriage have been exacerbated and they now live apart. He considers it unlikely that there will be any reconciliation.

“He’s now unable to keep up his mortgage payments and the house will be sold.

“He’s lost his job, his marriage and his home.

“This was a fleeting incident which he regrets greatly.”

Sheriff Francis Gill told Robertson: “I did not believe your version of events.

“The complainer was extremely frightened and distressed. It’s had a big impact on her.”

The sheriff imposed a community payback order with six months of supervision and Robertson was put on the sex offenders register for the same period.