A masseur has been given a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting five women at a luxury spa in Berkshire.
Details of the Assaults
Ibrahim Ali, 36, targeted the women during treatments in November and December of last year. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the victims had initially booked standard back and foot massages. However, Ali insisted they remove all their clothing and wear paper underwear, even when they expressed discomfort.
During the sessions, the 36-year-old pulled down the towels covering the women's bodies further than was necessary and proceeded to touch them inappropriately.
Investigation and Court Proceedings
The CPS confirmed that all five women reported Ali's disturbing behaviour to spa staff at the time. However, a formal police investigation was only launched in December 2024 after one of the victims went directly to the authorities.
Ali, who had previously admitted to the charges, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court, sitting at Reading Magistrates' Court, on Monday, November 17. He received a two-year jail sentence, suspended for two years.
Sentence and Consequences
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court imposed several other penalties. Ali was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
He must also complete 40 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to each of his five initial victims, plus a further two women who came forward after his conviction, bringing the total compensation to £3,500.
Commenting on the case, CPS lawyer Shilpa Shah said: "These women should have been able to feel safe and relaxed during their treatments. Instead, Ibrahim Ali betrayed their trust, leaving them feeling distressed and violated."
She highlighted that the similarity in the accounts from the five women, who were unknown to each other, was crucial to the case's strength, which ultimately led to Ali's guilty plea.
"Ali's actions were criminal and, as this case has shown, we will do all we can to secure justice for victims of sexual assault and abuse," Shah concluded.
