Bunbury masseur Anthony Brain sentenced to more than 15 years jail for raping clients

A masseur who claimed he once lived in a European nudist colony and wanted to open a brothel in Western Australia has been sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in jail for sexually assaulting more than a dozen women.

WARNING: This story contains details of sexual assault that readers may find distressing.

Anthony Brain, 39, sexually assaulted 13 women who visited his business The Nomadic Masseur in the regional WA city of Bunbury for remedial massages.

Two of the victims were seeking care after recently giving birth, while another was a person with muscular dystrophy who uses a wheelchair.

Over a trial that lasted more than two months, the prosecution said Brain "had sex on his brain" while giving the massages and went much further than his clients expected or wanted.

The first woman to raise the alarm about Brain's conduct went to police in 2023, triggering an investigation that saw many more women come forward.

They gave evidence to the District Court via video-link, some breaking down as they described what he did to them.

One woman told the court Brain told her he had lived in a nudist colony in Europe and was hoping to bring people from there to Bunbury to "normalise it", so the city could have something similar.

Another victim was only seeking relief from migraines, but Brain asked her to take her clothes off even though she only needed her head, shoulders and neck treated.

Brain asked that she sign a consent form for massage of her breast and groin areas, saying "you should feel comfortable with this, it's just the human body".

A woman who went for treatment for a torn hamstring was asked to lie on her back with her legs spread apart, before Brain abused her.

She testified that Brain told her he wanted to open a brothel in Bunbury.

When Brain gave evidence, he talked about being in the Australian Army before he lived in a nudist colony in Europe.

He said his methods were acceptable in Europe, and he denied he did anything sexual without consent.

He told the court he was only trying to offer freedom from pain and a better quality of life, saying not everybody was as "open minded" as he was.

Brain told the court: "Australia wasn't quite ready for what I can do."

Victims' loss of trust

During sentencing, district court judge Lisa Tovey read multiple statements from victims, outlining the sorrow, shame and guilt they feel over the assaults.

"Since the assault her [one victim] sense of safety has been completely taken from her and she no longer feels secure in her own life or surroundings," Judge Tovey said.

"There's a common thread of loss of trust within themselves, others and health professionals."

"Some expressed sorrow, shame and guilt … the only one who should feel that, is you Mr Brain."

Brain was sentenced to 15 years and six months jail, backdated to November 2025.

Six victims were also granted violence restraining orders, with Brain instructed not to communicate with them for life.

He will be eligible for parole in 2039.