Brandan Than: Ipswich physiotherapist found guilty of sexually assaulting patient

A physiotherapist has avoided jail after sexually assaulting a “beautiful” international student during a 50-minute appointment thinking he’d get away with it.  

Physiotherapist Brandan Than, 29, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial in the Ipswich District Court. Picture: Liam Beatty.

A “sleazy” Ipswich health practitioner, who sexually assaulted a young international student, will walk free after he was handed a suspended sentence.

Physiotherapist Brandan Than, 29, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial in the Ipswich District Court this week.

Jurors returned a unanimous verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations on Wednesday and Thursday.

Both Than and his victim took to the stand to share their account of what happened.

The Durak man, who worked part-time at the Orion Family Physiotherapy clinic in Springfield and part-time fly-in fly-out in Moranbah, had strenuously denied the incident took place.

The assaults occurred after a “young, beautiful” international student booked in to see Than on March 3, 2020, after receiving a recommendation from a friend.

She had injured her back in a nasty fall at her work and was receiving care under WorkCover.

Crown prosecutor Amy Stannard told the jury Than’s behaviour during the 50 minute acupuncture and massage session was “anything but appropriate”.

During the appointment, Than pulled down his client’s pants and left her exposed on the table for up to eight minutes as he massaged her neck. Picture: Liam Beatty.

“This was a professional centre in a suburban shopping centre not a sleazy massage parlour offering happy endings,” she said.

“She trusted him as a professional to help her injured body.”

During the appointment, Than pulled down her pants and left her exposed on the table for up to eight minutes as he massaged her neck.

He later took her through range-of-motion exercises while half naked – another physiotherapist testified these tests did not require the victim to be exposed.

“It was excruciatingly uncomfortable,” Ms Stannard said.

“What this was, was a testing of the waters. He was confident he could do what he wanted and get away with it.”

The jury heard this was the woman’s first visit to a physiotherapist and she didn’t object to the behaviour because she “trusted” him to be professional.

She finally objected after Than touched her vagina twice while she was lying on the massage table, and testified the physiotherapist said “oh s …” and ran from the room.

A complaint was filed days later with the Queensland Health Ombudsman after receiving a message from Than saying: “How are you feeling after the treatment?”.

The Ombudsman referred the issue to police who began an investigation.

Representing Than, defence barrister Chris Wilson sought to convince the jury there was nothing out of the ordinary about the appointment.

“This allegation is very odd, it’s very strange,” he said.

“The prosecution’s case is this was done out of the blue, there were no attempts of seduction or no overtures. No sign of the sort of sleazy things you’d expect.”

Than was sentenced on Friday morning by Judge John Allen KC to a 12-month term of imprisonment suspended for a period of two years.