Gerringong masseur rapist Mark Horsfall learns fate for horror crimes

A masseur could spend nearly a decade behind bars for sexually violating multiple women on the state’s south coast, including at a Gerringong massage parlour. WARNING: Graphic content

A brave survivor of monstrous south coast masseur Mark Anthony Horsfall has lambasted the “revolting” sex offender who “damaged so many lives because of the evil” inside of him.

The woman, who was sexually violated at the Body Resort Chinese Massage in Gerringong, struggled to hold in her tears as she expressed her “hate” for the 62-year-old who has been in custody since being found guilty of multiple offences after a week-long trial in February.

“I hate you and most of all I hate that you made me hate and blame myself,” the woman said as Horsfall, appearing on videolink from prison, shook his head.

“You are the only person who should be hated and blamed.”

The powerful words come as Judge Robert Sutherland sentenced Horsfall to a maximum of 10 years behind bars for sexually violating seven vulnerable women during 2020 and 2021.

Horsfall, who wasn’t a legally qualified masseur, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, one being aggravated due to one of the victims having a disability, as well as a further charge of sexual touching, after a trial at Wollongong District Court.

The offences subject to the trial regarded two of Horsfall’s victim, with the predator pleading guilty to eight other charges – relating to four other women – including six counts of sexual touching and two counts of sexual assault.

Gruesome details of how Horsfall exploited a woman with a degenerative disease at her mother’s home by digitally penetrating her metres away from her mother in January 2021 were previously heard by the court.

The woman said she “jolted” and blurted “don’t” with Horsfall then licking his finger and saying “that’s yummy”.

Mark Horsfall leaving Wollongong District Court while he was on bail during the trial. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The second victim was sexually assaulted at the in the pervert’s makeshift massager parlour at his mother’s house in Culburra Beach in March 2021.

The woman’s son was in an adjoining room watching a movie as Horsfall told her she has a “yummy” backside before sexually assaulted by penetrating her vagina with two fingers and performing oral sex on her.

The other victims were violated at the Body Resort Chinese Massage parlour between November 2020, and March 2021.

The trial heard a victim in her 40s was left in a state of shock after Horsfall kissed her on the neck and whispered “yummy” in her ear.

Horsfall digitally penetrated the woman on two occasions and sucked one of her nipples.

“Are you feeling relaxed now”, he said before she left and went to Wollongong Hospital to undergo a rape test.

The court heard Horsfall rubbed the clitoris of one of the women, stuck his tongue down the throat of another and made a range of crass comments including “you have a yummy bottom”.

During a sentencing hearing in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday, four women delivered victim impact statements including the two who were subject to the trial.

The woman with the degenerative disease told the court how Horsfall’s offending had made trusting health services “extremely difficult” while the other called him a “grub”.

South coast masseur Mark Anthony Horsfall leaving Wollongong District Court on Thursday February 9 2023. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Another victim who developed psychological conditions as a result of Horsfall’s conduct said he was “in a cage where he belongs” while she would be “enjoying the beach and swimming in the ocean. I will enjoy my freedom”.

When handing down the sentence, Judge Sutherland said there was “no question the crimes committed on the victims have been severe and long lasting”.

Judge Sutherland also pointed to a psychologist’s report detailing Horsfall being born in Dubbo and raised in Mt Druitt in Sydney’s west.

The report referred to Horsfall joining the navy and experienced two failed marriages - the second which ended after infidelity between his second wife and a friend from the navy.

The sentence includes a non-parole period of six years and six months, meaning with time already served Horsfall could be considered for parole in 2029.