Therapist sexually assaulted and secretly recorded clients

Iona man, 72, warned by sheriff he faces a custodial sentence

A massage therapist from Iona has admitted sexually assaulting clients and secretly filming them undressing.

Norman James Young of Tigh na Tobrach, Isle of Iona, pleaded guilty when he appeared in Oban Sheriff Court on Monday March 25.

Police found thousands of photographs, many of which were stills from videos, in the 72-year-old’s home, from which he operated Mull and Iona Therapeutic Treatment Services.

He admitted sexually assaulting two clients and covertly filming 242 people between April 1 2014 and May 31 2018. Footage showed Young both giving and receiving sexual acts from male and female clients.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty told the court that on July 13 2017, a woman went to Young for a massage.

‘She was given two small hand towels to cover her private parts.

He massaged her in a way to cause the towel to move, making her feel even more uncomfortable,’ said Mr McGinty.

Young then sexually assaulted the woman during the massage, at the end of which he left the room, and when he returned, she expressed her discomfort.

‘When the complainer told him she was uncomfortable,’ Mr McGinty added, ‘he responded that it was a cultural problem and that Americans who come to him for a massage do not even have towels at all and that British people are uptight.’

After leaving, the woman contacted the police as ‘she didn’t want anyone else to have to experience that’.

However, a warrant was not granted until another report was made on May 31 2018, when another woman was sexually assaulted by the 72-year-old.

Young again used a small towel to cover the women’s private parts and exposed and touched her inappropriately three times.

Search

‘A systematic search of his house commenced,’ Mr McGinty said, ‘during which a concealed camera positioned within an advertising placard on the wall of the treatment room was found.

‘This was hung up to focus directly on the treatment table and was connected to a mini-recording system.

‘Also seized were an Acer computer and an external hard-drive and other items capable of storing information. Subsequent analysis of these items revealed thousands of photographs of individuals in various stages of undress within the massage room. Many of these are stills from videos.

‘The accused appears to have been particularly diligent in his record keeping.

‘He cataloged each massage in directories and police have been able to, through dates and through a log of consent forms retained by the accused, identify 242 individuals who were recorded undressing and receiving a massage.’

Sheriff Patrick Hughes said: ‘This is an extremely serious matter, one which the court will consider a custodial sentence.’

Sheriff Hughes deferred sentencing until April 24 for the court to obtain reports and made Young subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act.