B.C. masseur sentenced for sexually assaulting 5 female clients

The courthouse in Victoria is shown in this file photo (CTV News)

A masseur who sexually assaulted five female clients in Victoria, B.C., has been sentenced to two years less a day in jail.

Ajesh Jacob was sentenced last month in Victoria and the judge’s decision was published online Wednesday.

At trial, Jacob was found guilty of committing five assaults between May of 2019 and March of 2021 when he worked at Big Feet Reflexology and Acupressure.

“The impact was clear when (the victims) testified,” Justice Catherine Murray wrote in her decision.

“The complainants universally felt embarrassed, disgusted, and ashamed – as if there was something they did to cause this to happen to them. There was not.”

The judge’s decision describes the assaults, which involved Jacob massaging the women on areas of their body including their exposed breasts, buttocks, and inner thighs. Several of the women described Jacob asking them to turn onto their backs before he lifted the sheet and looked at their nearly naked bodies.

One woman ended up bruised after Jacob “massaged the top three quarters of her breasts with force ‘squeezing them like you would a stress ball,’” while another told the court that Jacob “manipulated her hand to brush against his penis.”

All of the victims testified that Jacob followed them out of the room and watched while they paid – including one who said she planned to tell the receptionist about the assault but did not because the masseur was standing there, according to the decision.

The Crown was seeking a sentence of two years less a day in jail while defence sought an 18-month sentence to be served in the community.

The judge ruled that incarceration was warranted in the case, outlining the “many” aggravating factors, including the number of assaults.

Another aggravating factor was that Jacob was in a position of trust.

“All of the complainants trusted Mr. Jacob to provide them with a therapeutic massage. They followed his direction. When they started to feel uncomfortable about what he was doing, they told themselves that they must be mistaken,” Murray wrote. “They questioned themselves and felt shame for his shameful actions.”

The vulnerability of the victims was also considered aggravating.

“All were naked or mostly naked in a small room alone with him. The door was closed. All of the complainants described ‘freezing’ when he was touching them inappropriately and feeling fearful,” the decision said.

Two of the victims testified that they said “no,” including one who said she pushed the masseur off her.

“That did not stop him from continuing to sexually assault others,” the judge’s decision said, describing the assaults as “planned and deliberate.”

In addition to jail time, Jacob was sentenced to three years of probation.

“This sentence sends a strong message to Mr. Jacob and other like-minded individuals that sexual assault will not be condoned. Additionally, it will protect the public by placing Mr. Jacob under supervision for the maximum allowable time,” Murray wrote.

Because he was sentenced to more than six months in jail, Jacob will also be deported to India.

Jacob is not and has never been a registered massage therapist affiliated with B.C.’s College of Complementary Health Professionals