Court finds 'chakra balancing' massage amounted to indecent assault

A former high-ranking Tasmanian firefighter has escaped …

A former high-ranking Tasmanian firefighter has escaped jail time after a court determined that a massage he performed, which he described as 'chakra balancing,' constituted an indecent assault on a female client.

The incident occurred while the man was working as a massage therapist, a second career he had taken up after leaving the fire service. The victim, who had sought treatment for stress-related issues, said she was shocked when the therapist's hands moved to areas she had not consented to during the session.

Magistrate Simon Brown accepted that the physical contact went beyond the scope of a legitimate therapeutic massage, ruling that the 'chakra balancing' explanation did not justify the nature of the touching. The court heard the woman felt vulnerable and violated during the appointment, leading her to report the matter to police shortly afterward.

In sentencing, the magistrate noted the man's previously

In sentencing, the magistrate noted the man's previously unblemished record, his contributions to the community through his firefighting career, and his low risk of reoffending. These factors, combined with his expression of remorse, were sufficient to avoid a custodial sentence.

Instead, the court imposed a wholly suspended term of imprisonment, along with conditions requiring the man to undergo counseling and to refrain from practicing as a massage therapist without appropriate supervision. The decision has drawn criticism from victim advocacy groups, who argue that the seriousness of the offense warranted a tougher penalty.

The man will remain on the suspended sentence for two years, during which any further offense would trigger the prison term. He has also been ordered to pay compensation to the victim for the psychological harm she suffered.