Warning: this story contains graphic content about sexual assault.

A former Victoria masseur who was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault was sentenced to two years less a day at a hearing on Monday, March 24.

After a 19-day trial, Ajesh Jacob, who went by Sam at the time, was found guilty of inappropriately touching clients between 2019 and 2021 at Big Feet, a former reflexology studio on Fort Street.

The accused was originally charged on 11 counts of sexual assault, though two of the charges were stayed and he was found not guilty on a further four counts. 

On one of the guilty counts, the victim, whose name is protected by a publication ban, said Jacob told her she had a "womanly body" during a massage before placing the massage sheet under her belly button, leaving her breasts exposed.

"He began massaging her chest. He then started massaging her breasts. He was using both hands at once. [The victim] described his motions as more touching than massaging," Murray said, adding that the victim was frozen in fear during the ordeal. "She said that as she wanted to get out of the situation. As [the victim] explained, 'I think I realized that what was happening was not right and I didn't know what would happen if it kept going.'"

Jacob, an Indian national, could face deportation as his sentence exceeds six months. According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, permanent residents or foreign nationals could face removal if they are convicted of an offence for which a term of imprisonment of more than six months has been imposed, though that decision is now up to the Immigration and Refugee Board.