Police praise bravery of women who spoke out against Bunbury rapist masseur Anthony Brain
Anwen Handmer says she feels rage towards Brain. (ABC News: Jasmine Hughes )
In short:
Detectives have praised the women who spoke out against Bunbury massage therapist Anthony Brain.
Brain was jailed for more than 15 years for sexually assaulting more than a dozen vulnerable clients.
Anwen Handmer spoke of her relief at his lengthy sentence and her ongoing anger at his abuse of power.
One of 13 women sexually assaulted by a predatory masseur under the guise of pain relief has spoken of her anger at his abuse of power, while urging other victims to trust their instincts and speak out.
WARNING: This story contains details of sexual assault that readers may find distressing.
After a two-month trial, Anthony Brain was yesterday jailed for more than 15 years for sexually assaulting 13 women at his massage business in Bunbury, 170 kilometres south of Perth.
Bunbury masseur Anthony Brain has been jailed for sexual offences against 13 women. (Supplied: Facebook)
Extraordinary anger
Speaking outside court, Anwen Handmer, who uses a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy, said she was relieved by the sentence.
"I feel very relieved, empowered to a certain extent, and I think it was the right outcome," she said.
Anwen Handmer, speaking outside court after Brain was sentenced. (ABC News: Jasmine Hughes )
She said her anger at her abuser remained.
"I've been very conscious of an extraordinary anger at the way Mr Brain abused his position of power, and abused the vulnerability of everyone he offended against."
Erika Karlsson, another patient of Brain's, said she had known the 39-year-old since they worked together at a fast food outlet.
Ms Karlsson said she had found Brain's approach to treatment confronting, including having to be completely nude for every session.
"There were a few things that seemed off-putting, but I trusted him," she said.
"It was quite a forceful treatment — looking back on that it was a scary idea.
"I'd had a partial spinal fusion; he was standing on my spine, on my pelvis — one wrong foot and he could have put me in real trouble."
She said news of Brain's arrest had left her reassessing how she had been treated.
"I'm very body-conscious, and lying there naked in a room alone," Ms Karlsson said.
"He's built a trust; you go along to someone who's a licensed practitioner, and you assume they're going to do the right thing."
Victims' bravery praised
Meanwhile, detectives who worked on the case have praised the bravery of more than a dozen women who testified.
Brain, 39, was first charged in November 2023 with the sexual assault of two women, with police urging other victims to speak out.
Bunbury Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Martin said the scale of his offending was substantial.
"I would say it's the most significant sexual offending that I've seen in over 10 years,"he said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Martin hopes the verdict and sentence provides some comfort to Brain's victims. (ABC South West: Georgia Loney )
The women who Brain targeted were particularly vulnerable, with two seeking care after recently giving birth, and another using a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy.
Senior Sergeant Martin said the initial charges resulted in many other women coming forward to tell their story.
"When one person gets the courage to speak out, then that becomes knowledge with in the community," he said.
"It then gives the other victims the courage to come forth, and it becomes a domino effect."
During last year's trial, the court heard Brain told clients he needed to touch their groin or breasts.
One woman had gone to Brain seeking a neck and shoulder massage, but instead the masseur sexually penetrated her.
Brain leaves court in Perth during his lengthy sex assault trial. (ABC News: David Weber)
The woman was so shocked by what had happened she hit the kerb as she drove home, and felt compelled to shower repeatedly.
Senior Sergeant Martin said Brain had taken advantage of vulnerable women he had claimed to be helping.
"It's something that would be a shock and humiliating," he said.
Sexual assault taken seriously
Senior Sergeant Martin said the guilty verdict, and 15-year-sentence, sent a powerful message to the community.
"It's a significant term of imprisonment, it sends a strong message to the community at large that people that take an opportunity to prey on vulnerable people, customers or otherwise, it's not going to be tolerated by society," he said.
"We have a dedicated team of detectives throughout the state and we take every report of sexual assault very very seriously."
Brain will be eligible for parole in 2039, with six of his victims granted lifetime violence restraining orders against him.
'Trust your instincts'
Ms Handmer urged other victims of sexual assault to speak to people they trusted.
"One of my earliest instincts was 'nobody's going to believe me.'
"But trust your instincts and go to police."