Massage therapist Jason Paul Hagon, who sexually abused nine women, in custody after harrowing victim impact statements
A massage therapist who sexually abused nine women over nearly a decade has been taken into custody after his victims bravely stood in court and stared him down.
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An “egocentric” massage therapist who sexually abused nine women was suffering from a lack of sexual intimacy in his own relationship at the time, a court has heard - as his brave victims ripped into the predator in court.
Jason Paul Hagon, 54, appeared in the District Court on Monday where he had his bail revoked and was taken into custody for his offending from 2009 to 2021.
In June, the Morphett Vale man pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault just before he was due to stand trial after originally pleading not guilty to 19 counts of aggravated indecent assault and six counts of rape. The charges were amended after his guilty pleas.
On Monday, the courtroom was packed with nine victims who each read aloud victim impact statements, with one saying the trauma of Hagon’s offending had left her “fragmented” with a “diminished sense of self-worth”.
“I frequently experience dissociation – feeling disconnected with my surroundings and myself as if I am an observer of my own life,” she said.
“Sleep – which should be a restorative part of life – has become a source of significant stress. I struggle with insomnia and frequent nightmares, often waking in a state of panic and fear.”
“You chose your victims carefully,” another said. “You chose women who you thought would never speak up – women who you thought would never report you.”
Sarah Eccles-Smith, who was the first of Hagon’s victims to come forward, said she had “only just recently” told her family of the assault because she felt “shamed and embarrassed”.
“There are several words that come to mind when I think about the type of person Jason is,” Ms Eccles-Smith said. “The one that sits at the front of my mind the most is ‘calculated’ – he knew exactly what he was doing.
“All I want, and all I ask for, is justice – a fair punishment equal to the crimes committed against us.”
Hagon was first arrested in November of 2021 and initially charged with engaging in sexual intercourse without consent.
In June 2022 he was also charged rape and aggravated indecent assault in relation to four other women. In May 2023, a ninth victim came forward.
Hagon was temporarily banned from providing services as a hypnosis coach who also offered remedial massage, personal training and life coaching under the business name “Hagon’s Heroes”.
On Monday, Hagon’s defence counsel submitted that before reading the victim impact statements, his client thought the impact on his victims “ended when they left the (massage) room”.
“He now appreciates and acknowledges that this was not only a blatant breach of his professional obligations, but a violation of the trust that these women placed in him,” they said.
“He was suffering from a lack of sexual intimacy in his own relationship at the time.
“Because of that egocentric attitude focused entirely on himself, he succumbed to the temptation of that unique opportunity that was before him.”
Hagon read an apology letter in court acknowledging his actions had left “lasting scars” on the victims.
Outside court, Ms Eccles-Smith called his apology “bullsh*t”.
Hagon will appear for sentencing in October.
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Originally published as Massage therapist Jason Paul Hagon, who sexually abused nine women, in custody after harrowing victim impact statements
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