Anthony Brain: Bunbury masseur allegedly preyed on disabled patients, charged with sexual assault

Warning: the following story contains details regarding sexual assault. A therapeutic masseur allegedly sexually assaulted a woman with muscular dystrophy who was unable to move or resist, Bunbury Magistrates Court has been told. Anthony Brain, 37, who appeared via video link from Bunbury Regional Prison on Friday, pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual penetration without consent, and one count of unlawful and indecent assault. Since the report on Brain’s first court appearance on November 23, another 25 women have contacted police claiming to also have been victims with court told by prosecutors that it was “highly certain” more charges will be laid. Mr Brain is the owner of The Nomadic Masseur in Bunbury, an establishment which offers pelvic floor massages as one of its services. It is alleged between October 22 and November 18 that Brain sexually assaulted two female clients during massage sessions, one of whom has muscular dystophy and uses a wheelchair, leaving her unable to resist the alleged assault. While in the case of the other woman, it is alleged that while performing a neck massage, Brain sexually assaulted her. The two alleged victims had each visited Mr Brain’s premises on separate occasions for “two-hour relax massage” and gave him instructions to focus on their shoulders and neck. In both instances, it is alleged that Mr Brain insisted the women remove all clothing and did not allow them any cover and then repeatedly touched and penetrated their genitals without consent, insisting that what he was doing had “therapeutic benefits.” He was remanded in custody until next week for Magistrate Benjamin Tyers to consider his bail application after the prosecution raised concern that Mr Brain had two active passports and was a “real risk” of fleeing the country. The Bunbury case comes as another massage therapist in Armadale was charged with unlawful and indecent assault. The 67-year old man from Maddington was charged after he allegedly indecently assaulted a woman in her 30s during a remedial massage appointment at a business within a shopping centre in Armadale. The man appeared in Armadale Magistates court on Friday. If you have been a victim of alleged sexual abuse, or if you have information about someone being abused, please contact police on 131 444, or report the information via the Safe2Say online reporting platform.