Masseur Shao-Wei Wu’s victims speak about impact of sex crimes

Two victims of a massage therapist who carried out sexual crimes against them while they were vulnerable, partially naked and alone in dark rooms have shared the horrific impact it has had on their lives. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Shao-wei Wu has been jailed for sexual offending while he was working at Essential Massage at Stockland Rockhampton. His charges include one count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two of breaching privacy by filming or photographing genital or anal areas.

The disturbing actions of a predatory masseur who violated three female customers left one of his victims feeling like she ‘wants to peel the skin off her own body’.

This is what Crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips told Rockhampton District Court about the impact the masseur’s “creepy and sneaky” sexually-motivated offending had on one of his three victims.

“So the impact has been profound,” he said.

Shao-wei Wu, 34, worked at Essential Massage, in Stockland Rockhampton, when he committed four violating offences against three women on April 5, 2021.

Those offences included one count of rape, one of sexual assault and two of recordings which breached privacy; along with a fifth charge of possessing tainted property.

The Taiwan-born qualified molecular biotechnologist was sentenced on February 17 to three years in prison and is likely to be deported after serving his sentence.

During his sentencing remarks, Judge Jeff Clarke outlined more of the impacts Wu’s violating behaviour caused his victims.

He said the rape victim was now triggered every time she saw a man of Asian appearance, suffered from anxiety and depression and felt violated.

Judge Clarke said this victim had left her employment as a result of the impact Wu’s offending has had on her which included insomnia and feeling like she had lost her sense of self.

He said she had undergone mental and physical therapy.

Judge Clarke said another victim – who Wu photographed without consent – worked near the shop and now experiences extreme anxiety when she walks past the location.

She still receives psychological treatment 22 months after the offending took place.

The third woman did not provide a victim impact statement to the court.