Therapist denies sex assaults (From Herald Series)

Therapist denies sex assaults

9:02am Tuesday 9th September 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

A hair therapist denied sexually assaulting women while giving them massages in his consultation room.

Married father-of-four Praminder Mankoo took the stand at Oxford Crown Court yesterday to tell the jury he asked his clients to remove their clothes to stop them getting stained with massage oil.

But he said he never forced them to undress and only asked them to remove their clothes to a level they felt comfortable with.

The 47-year-old, who runs Hairology in Thame, said: "I would ask them to take their arms out of their bra straps so their shoulders would be completely bare so the massage could be done without any interruption."

Mankoo, of Oakley, near Thame, denies two charges of indecent assault and nine of sexual assault.

He told the jury he could not remember some of the eight alleged victims, but denied sexually assaulting them.

Mankoo told the court he had accepted a police caution for indecent assault in 1998 but only because he feared negative publicity for his business if he disputed the claims.

The trial continues.

• Print
• Email
• Share