Thaindian News

Wellington, Nov 12 (ANI): Police in New Zealand have taken it on themselves to issue guidelines and tips to people who visit a masseuse after a masseur was found guilty of inappropriately touching a client.

Not wanting people, who are seeking therapeutic massages, to fall victim to predators like Brendon Dorn, 34, from Palmerston North, the police issued the warning.

Dorn is serving four months’ home detention and he has also been banned from working as a massage therapist while serving his sentence.

During his trial in March, the Palmerston North District Court heard that Dorn touched a female client’s breasts and at least twice slipped a finger down her underwear while giving her a massage in 2008.

Detective Andy Livingstone, who led the investigation into Dorn’s misconduct, said police were keen to ensure that visitors to health massage therapists were aware of what was legal and ethical in the wake of the now-barred masseur’s actions.

“This case provides a good opportunity to highlight what practices are acceptable and when alarm bells should ring,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Livingstone as saying.

“My biggest concern is that customers or patients who undergo massage therapy are not necessarily clear about what they should expect, and may be embarrassed to question something they feel is inappropriate.

“Just because someone wears the cloak of a professional doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to question their actions.

“We don’t want someone not coming forward because they are confused or embarrassed, so we urge anyone who has concerns about a practitioner to contact the Health and Disability Commission or the police,” he stated. (ANI)