An unlicensed massage therapist who sexually assaulted seven clients, including one woman with multiple sclerosis, has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
Mark Anthony John Horsfall, 62, has already served part of his sentence and will be eligible for parole in January 2029 after the offending at a NSW massage parlour.
"No penalty other than full-time imprisonment is appropriate", Judge Robert Sutherland said during sentencing on Tuesday.
"There was an abuse of a position of trust."
Horsfall was arrested in March 2021 after a woman reported a rape to police the day after her appointment at a massage parlour in Gerringong on the NSW south coast.
Operating as an unlicensed massage therapist, Horsfall had asked the woman to remove her underwear halfway through her appointment.
After she refused, he kissed her on the lips and sexually assaulted her with his hands and mouth.
The woman said she was "frozen in fear" and had "never felt more powerless" in a victim impact statement.
After the appointment, she called a friend to take her to Wollongong Hospital where she underwent a sexual assault test, resulting in Horsfall's arrest.
News of the masseur's crimes spread through the south coast community via Facebook and local media, resulting in six other women reporting assaults occurring between November 2020 and March 2021.
Horsfall was charged with six counts of sexual touching and four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
A further count of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent was laid after a woman with multiple sclerosis came forward reporting she was raped by the masseur when she had limited mobility and could not walk.
The retired navy officer pleaded guilty to seven charges and was found guilty by trial for a further four.
"The pleas of guilty show some remorse," Judge Sutherland said in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court.
"(But) he has expressed no remorse and indeed does not accept the jury verdict."
During a sentence hearing, the seven victims said their lives had been changed, with Horsfall's assaults leading to unemployment, alcoholism, lack of trust and self-blame.
"The victims must understand and accept that their level of self-shame is misplaced, the only person who should feel shame is (the offender)," Judge Sutherland said.
He imposed a non-parole period of six-and-a-half years.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
