Massage therapist Gregory John Sutton offered free sessions before alleged rape

An Ipswich massage therapist and Brothers Football Club name is expected to go to trial for allegedly raping a woman he offered free massages to last year.

Massage therapist Gregory John Sutton outside Ipswich Courthouse on October 10. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A North Ipswich massage therapist has been accused of raping a woman he had offered a number of free massage sessions to.

Gregory John Sutton, 52, who court heard had coached for the Brothers Football Club, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on October 10, 2022, for committal.

The alleged victim, a woman who was an acquaintance of Mr Sutton, also appeared for cross-examination.

She gave evidence, from a separate room, confirming Mr Sutton he had offered her free massage services for her ongoing pain.

The court heard Mr Sutton allegedly raped her in 2021, after he had already provided her a number of free massage appointments.

Defence lawyer Michael Kelly asked the woman about communications he suggested she had had with Mr Sutton after the alleged offence, many of which she said she did not recall.

He said there had been attempts to arrange a further massage after the alleged offence, and that the woman had reached out to Mr Sutton after seeing a Facebook post she assumed he had posted about her.

Mr Kelly quoted the woman’s response to Mr Sutton, saying, “if you’ve got a f**king problem with me, say it to my face”.

Mr Kelly further asked the woman, “there was no communication about any sexual assault or rape, was there?”.

She replied, “well no, I wouldn’t wanna speak about that to the man that’d done that to me”.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne said she was satisfied there was enough evidence for the matter to proceed to trial.

She said Mr Sutton was formally charged with one count of rape, and he chose not to enter a plea at this stage.

The matter was committed for trial in Ipswich District Court, and Mr Sutton was released on bail.