Italian massage therapist Marcello Scariati jailed for sexually assaulting clients - ABC Online

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Related Story: Judge delays sentencing massage therapist over sex offences

An Italian massage therapist who was working in Perth has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years' jail for sexually assaulting five female clients whom he said he believed he was "doing a favour".

Marcello Scariati, 30, abused the women who booked in for a massage with him between February and June last year.

Scariati also admitted exposing himself and indecently assaulting a woman he accosted on a Perth beach.

The District Court was told Scariati had training in tantric chakra massage and initially believed what happened was a "misunderstanding" and that he had done the women "a favour by doing something extra and pleasurable" during their massage.

However, his lawyer Neville Barber said his client now understood that he breached women's trust and was remorseful for what he had done.

Dr Barber described Scariati as "highly academic" saying he had a PhD in political science and economics but had decided to use his massage skills while he looked for work in Australia.

He said Scariati's parents and brother were all senior police officers in Italy and while he had brought shame and embarrassment on them, they remained supportive of him.

Offences were 'gross breach of trust'


Judge Anette Schoombee rejected any suggestion that Scariati's crimes were based on a misapprehension.

"You are an intelligent person ... living in the 21st century. It must have been absolutely obvious to you that you needed to have the specific consent of your clients before you embarked on a sexually oriented massage," she said.

Judge Schoombee described the offences as a gross breach of trust saying the women were in a very vulnerable position and were likely to have long lasting emotional problems as a result of what Scariati had done.

"Women who make use of massage services must be able to do so without fear or concern they will be sexually offended against," she said.

Scariati will have to serve at least two-and-a-half years behind bars, and it is likely he will be deported when he is released.


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