Benjamin Steed: Dural masseuse, 33, convicted over sexually touching woman

A ‘dirty’ northwest Sydney masseuse who  joked about ‘Thai happy endings’ before touching his client’s genitals during an appointment has been banned

UPDATE

A masseuse who sexually touched a woman at a health clinic in Sydney’s west has been permanently banned from the profession.

Benjamin Steed, 33, from Quakers Hill pleaded guilty to one count of sexually touching a person without consent after he touched a 26-year-old woman at Simply Health and Wellness clinic in Dural last November.

Steed was convicted and sentenced to a 15-month intensive correction order in February.

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission has now slapped Steed with a permanent ban from practicing any health service.

“Mr Benjamin Steed is permanent prohibited for providing any health services in any capacity, either paid employment tor voluntary,” the HCCC said in a statement on Monday.

EARLIER 

BY JOANNE VELLA ON FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Masseuse Benjamin Steed touched a woman’s vagina at a Dural health clinic in November because he was depressed and anxious, a court has heard.

The Quakers Hill 33-year-old fronted Parramatta Local Court with his mother on Wednesday when it heard he pleaded guilty immediately after being charged with sexually touching a person without consent on the woman at Simply Health and Wellness clinic in November.

Court documents reveal the 26-year-old victim booked a remedial massage to treat her sore back, neck and shoulders at the Kenthurst Rd centre but Steed used the appointment for his sexual gratification.

He put on spa music, rubbed oil on his hands and, after treating her back for 20 minutes in silence, he laughed and told the victim: “I’m thinking of something dirty which I should not say’’.

The victim asked what he meant and he said, “Oh I was thinking of a Thai happy ending.’’

Masseuse Benjamin Steed (left) leaves Parramatta Local Court with his mum and lawyer Fahim Khan after he was sentenced for sexually touching a client.

“This joke made the victim very uncomfortable, however, she did not say anything to the accused as she did not want to offend or embarrass him,’’ police facts tendered to the court stated.

He continued to move the victim’s legs apart and started massaging her thighs, buttocks and down her legs using a lot of pressure that caused the victim to wince and place her hands over her head in pain.

After telling the terrified woman to concentrate on her breathing to tolerate the pain, he “continued to graze over the front of the victim’s underwear whilst he massaged her thigh then he started to breathe heavily’’ and told her “I’m being unprofessional’’.

As the victim froze in fear, he slid his hands under her underwear and to her pubic area four times before telling her “I’m gonna make it up to you’’ and stroked her genitals under her underwear.

Steed later apologised and said “I don’t know what came over me’’.

During an interview at Castle Hill police station, Steed admitted he got “gratification from sexually touching the victim and furthermore he stated he had intended on digitally penetrating the victim’s vagina ‘until she orgasmed’ however the victim ‘closed her legs’.”

The police facts state: “The accused stated he apologised profusely to the victim following the incident and that he called a friend some time after and disclosed what occurred because he knew his actions were seriously wrong. The accused’s reason for sexually touching the victim was because he was ‘feeling lonely’.

“The incident made the victim feel terrified, upset, dirty and violated.

Benjamin Steed (centre) with his mum and lawyer Fahim Khan, after learning his punishment at court.

“The accused abused his position for this own gratification and did not consider what the victim wanted or the fact she was vulnerable and isolated from other people.’’

Steed’s lawyer, Fahim Khan, said his client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and he showed good prospects of rehabilitation.

“Mr Steed didn’t pre-plan to do it, it was spontaneous. Already Mr Steed realises the impact of his conduct and plans to seek treatment to address his depression and anxiety.’’

Prosecutor John Marsh said the extremely serious incident was going to continue causing the victim difficulties.

“The victim now has difficulty sleeping, has had to reschedule appointments involving any male practitioners,’’ he said.

“The victim was vulnerable.’’

Magistrate David Price told the court the incident was highly serious but Steed had good prospects of rehabilitation.

“It’s important to stress that the conduct was, putting it mildly, very poor and stating it more accurately, abhorrent,’’ he said.

“He has touched her in a highly inappropriate way. This conduct evidently would cause significant physical, mental and emotional stress and harm to the victim. You’re not suffering anywhere near as much as the victim, you must remember that.’’

Magistrate Price told the court Steed was “otherwise a very decent person’’.

“He is otherwise a highly respected member of the community who has no prior history at all. He has demonstrated sincere remorse.’’

Steed was convicted and sentenced to a 15-month intensive correction order which allows him to serve a jail sentence in the community.

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