A masseur on the NSW north coast has been charged with indecent assault after allegedly attacking a 10-year-old girl during a massage session.
Police said yesterday that a 65-year-old therapist was arrested at his home in Emerald Beach on Tuesday after they attained a search warrant for the property.
The attack is alleged to have taken place last month, also at the Emerald Beach address.
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The accused has been charged with indecent assault and voyeurism, both in circumstances of aggravation. He has been granted bail and is due to face court next month.
This comes a month after an Indonesian masseur was charged with inappropriately touching a 12-year-old Perth boy during a massage in the Balinese town, Kuta.
In that case, the 47-year-old therapist reportedly confessed to police and was charged with sexual harassment.
Police are urging anyone with any information on the Emerald Beach incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Just to clarify my earlier point below: I am not suggesting the child in question misinterpreted the situation (though that has potential to occur when the line between appropriate and inappropriate touching is blurred or not understood). My comment was more a general one about the wisdom of putting children into a situation which requires a great deal of maturity with regards to perception of bodily autonomy and relative intimacy. I am not confident children are sophisticated enough to be placed in that situation.
Horrific story. On a related point, how appropriate is it for children to have massages? It involves being semi naked in a room with a stranger, who touches you in places and in ways that would otherwise be completely inappropriate in a different context. Are children able to properly understand these nuances?
That was my first thought too.
Be very careful with your judgements. Remember Lindy Chamberlain. Do you know this child, the circumstances, the mother or the man? Guilt by public opinion can ruin the lives of all concerned.
As per my comments above, my point was in relation to this occurrence, rather than an attempt to lay blame or guilt specific to the case. Until now, I had never heard of a child having a massage, and the very concept troubles me, regardless of this case.