Mark Horsfall: Gerringong masseuse charged with sexual assault has bail conditions eased

An Illawarra masseuse charged with sexual assault of a number of clients over a five-month period has had his bail eased.

A former Gerringong masseuse will face a trial, charged with a string of sexual assault charges after allegedly raping and inappropriately touching seven clients over a five-month period.

Mark Anthony John Horsfall appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, where he remained silent while his lawyer, Matt Kwan, said his client maintained his innocence.

Horsfall, 60, was originally facing 81 charges, however, the solicitor representing the Director for Public Prosecutions confirmed only 34 would go to trial with Magistrate Claire Girotto transferring the matter to the District Court on March 15.

Mark Anthony John Horsfall leaving Wollongong Local Court. The former Gerringong masseuse is facing 34 sexual assault charges

The alleged sexual assaults began in November, 2020 with Horsfall accused of rubbing a woman‘s genitalia outside her underwear and fondling her breast during a 90-minute massage.

Horsfall allegedly committed a similar crime the very next day to another woman, although this time he also kissed her on the lips.

Police will allege in early 2021, Horsfall committed multiple sexual assaults, including raping three women, in Gerringong and Culburra Beach — the tiny south coast town where he lived at the time

The most egregious allegations are that the then 59-year-old penetrated a woman 13 times over three hours while she lied on his massage table.

In this instance, Horsfall is also alleged to have fondled the woman‘s breasts and genitalia and kissed her on the lips and genitals.

Horsfall was arrested at the Body Resort Chinese Massage parlour in Gerringong and remanded in custody for seven months until he was released on strict conditional bail in October.

Mark Horsfall (left) leaving Wollongong Local Court.

The bail conditions required he live with his daughter in the Sydney suburb of Bligh Park.

He was banned from leaving the address without the company of his daughter and he was restricted from travelling to the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region unless it was to attend court.

Magistrate Girotto eased the bail conditions on Wednesday, allowing him to leave the Bligh Park address without his daughter when attending medical appointments.