A woman who alleges she was repeatedly sexually assaulted while on the table of an unqualified masseur at Gerringong has told police she felt frozen with shock and was "internally screaming" during parts of the prolonged attack.
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Mark Anthony John Horsfall faces 30 charges of aggravated sexual touching and aggravated sexual assault stemming from an encounter at Fern Street's Body Resort Chinese Massage on Friday afternoon.
The 59-year-old, of Culburra Beach, appeared before Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
The court heard the woman had attended the Fern St rooms twice before, once receiving a massage from a female therapist and the second time, from Horsfall.
On that occasion, she alleges he began massaging her shoulders and later moved onto her breasts, explaining the concepts of lymphatic draining massage and telling her, "it's okay just so long as you don't touch the nipples".
When the towel slipped, partially exposing the woman's chest, Horsfall allegedly laughed and told her, "I've seen them before, haha, some women don't even want a towel at all. I'm not even looking at them, I am professional."
The woman returned for a massage. She has told police when she didn't request a specific masseur, she got Horsall.
During Friday's appointment she says Horsfall massaged her face-down for about an hour without incident, and that she was so relaxed she asked if her appointment could be extended, prompting Horsfall to reply, "no problem, you can have me as long as you like".
The woman alleges Horsfall later pulled up her underwear like a G-string and complimented her buttocks - "it's lovely" before asking "will we take these [underwear] off?', to which she replied "no".
She has told police Horstall attended to her left breast, shoulder, neck, face and head before kissing her on the lips. She said she tensed at this point and felt "shocked and frozen to the bed and unable to say anything", but Horsfall continued the massage as if nothing untoward had happened. When he allegedly attempted a second kiss, she turned her head to the side and said "no".
Horsfall allegedly then moved the towel down, exposing the woman's chest and said, "yummy", before whispering in her ear, "yeah they are you know, yummy".
In a later stage he allegedly moved her underwear aside and told her "It's cute, that's cute".
The woman has told police she was motionless during the alleged attack. She said she was aware that there were others on the premises but she felt so dissociated and shocked she could not alert them to what was happening.
"The victim was internally screaming but could not voice anything," police said, in an account considered by the court on Monday.
Horsfall is accused of repeatedly rubbing the woman's genitalia and repeatedly penetrating her with his fingers and mouth.
At certain stages of the alleged attack she felt warm liquid being squirted onto her intimate areas and at one point wondered if he had put Tiger Balm on her genitals.
She described him moving her legs and performing unwanted oral sex, and said at several points Horsfall leaned up to her and said, "yummy".
She says she moved her entire body away and told Horsfall "no" when he attempted to apply his mouth to an intimate area. She says she kept her eyes shut during the assault but that Horsfall later reinstated a towel he had earlier placed over her head to protect against harsh lighting.
She says he then resumed massaging her arm in a professional manner and that the towel fabric absorbed her tears while she cried silently. She alleges Horsfall then brushed her lips with his through the towel and asked her, "are you feeling relaxed now?"
When she didn't reply, he told her, "be careful when you sit up, you will probably feel light-headed", and left the room.
The woman has told police she kept a friend on the phone as she left the room, paid at the reception desk and fled. She said she was trying to tell her friend what had happened but was initially too distraught. Once in her car she became hysterical. The friend accompanied her to Wollongong Hospital, where she underwent sexual assault testing.
Police say the woman became so distressed she hyperventilated when providing a statement to investigating officers the following day.
Police arrested Horsfall at the Fern St premises on Sunday.
In a police interview he initially denied he was sexually attracted to his alleged victim, but later said he was. He admitted to engaging in sexual activity with her, but said he believed he had seen signs that she had become sexually excited during the massage.
"When the victim was laying on her back and at one point her legs were apart, the accused believed this was consent by the victim for sexual contact," police said.
Horsfall told police the woman "never said no". He said he became remorseful once the woman left, but only because he had "done the wrong thing" and had "broken the rules" by behaving as he had in the workplace.
In court on Monday, Horsfall's lawyer said the charges against him would be "heavily defended".
"His behaviour may be poor in terms of workplace behaviour, or unethical, but they're not crimes in any shape or form," he said.
He said Horsfall received a carer's payment for looking after his elderly mother, and said he could spend two years in jail awaiting trial.
He said Horsfall would agree not to work in the industry if he was released on bail.
But police said it was not possible to ban Horsfall from his industry because he had no formal qualifications. His formal training consisted of a Chinese remedial massage course completed in 1979, for which he had lost the certificate.
Police prosecutor Ben Bragger strenuously opposed Horsfall's release.
"Bail is unthinkable. These offences are of the utmost seriousness and the fact sheet makes for frightening reading," he said.
"Women may not know what he's been accused of and he may continue to ... violate female bodies."
Magistrate Rabbidge noted Horsfall's limited criminal history but he faced "grossly revolting sexual allegations" that carried a possible prison term of 20 years.
"In federal parliament and the issues swirling around that place in the last few months is indicative of the community's general outrage at women who find themselves placed at colossal disadvantage and become the victims of horrendous crimes.
"He is facing an extraordinary, lengthy period of imprisonment. I must do my duty and ensure not only her protection but the community's protection."
Bail was refused. Horsfall was remanded in custody until the matter returns to court May 19.
The story: Gerringong massage rape case: Woman was 'screaming internally' during alleged attack first appeared in the Illawarra Mercury.
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