Drunk masseuse sexually assaulted me, claims client
Runner tells court he felt ‘violated’ after bikini-clad health spa owner refused to stop touching him
THE relationship between a masseuse and their client is a delicate one, requiring both a firm hand and a sensitive touch and, of course, a certain amount of discretion.
So when a keen runner had his legs oiled and rubbed by an allegedly drunken health spa boss wearing just a bikini he was more than a little taken aback.
The man accused Kerry Brocklebank of sexual assault after she poured oil on to his calves and began to massage them, despite his repeated requests for her to stop.
The runner had booked a sports massage with a male masseur, but as he was waiting Ms Brocklebank, 43, stepped in and took over, uninvited.
The runner, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, booked a session with therapist Henry Godfree at Huntingdon Spa and UK Sports Massage in Cambridgeshire on Oct 11 last year.
Cambridge Crown Court heard that when the man, who is in his early thirties, arrived at the spa he sat with Ms Brocklebank in a waiting room that had been decked out with Halloween decorations. He told the court: “She sat opposite me and just started chatting and playing with a witch’s hat… She was repeatedly shouting Henry’s name and repeatedly calling him darling.”
It is claimed that later, as the man lay face-down on a massage table in his underwear waiting for Mr Godfree to begin, Ms Brocklebank walked in.
“Kerry came into the room and said ‘I’m going to start your massage while Henry’s not in here’, to which I replied, ‘Don’t touch me, I’m here to see Henry’,” said the runner.
The jury heard she ignored his pleas, saying she was “qualified” and proceeded to pour massage oils on his right calf. “She was rubbing my calf – for probably a second or a couple of seconds maximum. She carried on doing what I described before then rubbing my lower back as well.
“She eventually moved around so that she was sat in front of me on a stool. I asked her to leave and get out. I could smell drink. As far as I’m concerned she was clearly drinking.”
Ms Brocklebank, the founder and director of the spa, is alleged to have only left the room when Mr Godfree returned. The alleged victim told the court: “I felt violated, angry and just not at all happy about the situation at all.”
Mr Godfree said: “It was quite provocative, quite flirtatious. She wasn’t dressed appropriately to be dealing with customers. She was wearing a bikini. She was very drunk.” Mr Godfree said he walked to the massage room after hearing the man raise his voice, saying ‘don’t touch me’ and ‘get off me’.
“She was leaned over so her breasts would have been inches from his head. She looked as if I was spoiling her fun.”
Alexandra Wilkinson, a former employee at the spa, yesterday told the court that Ms Brocklebank thought the client was in a relationship with Mr Godfree. When the man later told Ms Brocklebank he was reporting the matter to police and an ombudsman, she emailed him saying “again apologies, friends’ birthday, I shouldn’t mix business with pleasure”, and offered a free massage.
Jurors heard she was also charged with perverting the course of justice by sending “offensive and threatening electronic messages” in which she allegedly said: “Sorry did I interrupt gay time?” and “Believe me if this goes to court I will ruin the pair of you”.
Ms Brocklebank denies the charges. The case continues.
‘It was quite provocative, quite flirtatious… She was wearing a bikini. She was very drunk’