Anthony John Pittorino guilty of rape, sexual assaults

A masseuse accused of raping a client learnt his fate from his hospital bed after an ambulance rushed him from the courthouse to the emergency ward.

Anthony John Pittorino, 73, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault when he appeared before Hervey Bay District Court on Tuesday.

Hooked up to monitors in Hervey Bay Hospital’s emergency ward after being taken from the courthouse by ambulance, a masseuse accused of raping and sexually assaulting a client learned heard his verdict via videolink.

Anthony John Pittorino, 73, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault when he appeared before Hervey Bay District Court last week.

On Tuesday, a jury returned a guilty verdict on four of the rape charges and both counts of sexual assault.

Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said in her opening statement the woman was sexually assaulted during a number of appointments she had with Pittorino.

Ms Gallagher said the woman visited Pittorino seven times and was sexually assaulted on each occasion, with allegations he touched the woman’s breasts, then in later appointments he raped her.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the sixth charge.

On Tuesday, Pittorino was taken to hospital after an ambulance was called to the courthouse.

A videolink from the hospital was quickly arranged and the jury brought in to deliver its verdict.

Pittorino was seen in a hospital bed as the jury delivered its guilty verdict, with Pittorino at one point heard saying “guilty”.

Judge Michael Burnett asked the jury to continue deliberating in regard to the sixth charge to see if they could reach a verdict.

The court heard the matter would likely be adjourned and sentencing would be carried out at a later date at Brisbane District Court.