A PORTLAND hobby masseur with a special interest in bondage, discipline, dominance and sadomasochism has been placed on a community corrections order after admitting inappropriately touching a woman.
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Edward George Fricker, 56, of Cemetery Road, Narrawong, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool County Court on Thursday to indecent assault and sexual assault.
He was placed on a 16-month CCO with the conditions he do 200 hours of community work and undertake offender programs.
Judge Liz Gaynor said the offending had a catastrophic impact on Fricker but it was unlikely he would ever appear in court again.
She said the victim had suffered fear, depression, anxiety and sleeplessness.
Crown prosecutor David O'Doherty said Fricker met the victim aged in her late 20s during September 2014 at a local hotel and she went to his home where he gave her a massage.
During the massage he inappropriately touched her.
The woman indicated she did not like him doing that, got dressed and left the house about 10 minutes later.
The victim later resumed their friendship and went to Fricker's place of employment after he said he might have a job for her.
Six times he gave her a full body massage with baby oil on a bench at the premises.
On November 22, 2015, Fricker invited her to meet him, saying he had bought her a corset online.
Four days later Fricker and the woman met up again and he gave her a full body massage.
He inappropriately touched her, which made the woman panic.
She said she did not like what he did and he had been told not to do it.
The woman went to the Portland police station later that night and reported the incident.
In a victim impact statement the woman said when she was inappropriately touched the second time she felt betrayed, she became depressed and her anxiety flared up.
She said she felt like she was going to throw up and had been worried about going to court.
Defence counsel Con Mylonas said his client was born in New Zealand, the youngest of 13 siblings, had been married twice and had three daughters.
He said Fricker had no prior court appearances, no mental health issues and no substance abuse issues.
Mr Mylonas said his client had given the woman about 50 quasi-sexual massages but twice Fricker had not given adequate consideration to whether the woman was consenting to what he was doing.
He said Fricker had an interest in BDSM, he had clearly crossed a line and wanted to apologise to the victim.
Mr Mylonas said Fricker also faced possible deportation.
Judge Gaynor said Fricker had taken a punt.
She said there were sexual overtones in the relationship, Fricker had a liberal attitude to sex and the complainant was aware of that.
The judge said several professional references had been tendered which were extremely impressive.