Riverwood chiropractor Darren Goodrich pleads not guilty to sexually touching patient

A woman was left “frozen” and in “shock” after her chiropractor in Sydney’s south allegedly groped her during a treatment. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is defending the allegations.

Darren Goodrich has denied allegations he touched a patient at his Riverwood chiropractor clinic. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A female patient has claimed a Riverwood chiropractor touched her on the breasts, underwear line and smacked her bottom during a session leaving her “frozen” and in “shock”, a court has heard.

Darren Leith Goodrich, 63, pleaded not guilty after being charged with sexual touching without consent; and defended the allegations in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

The woman told the court she had sought treatment from Goodrich for a back injury and alleged during an appointment in May last year that Goodrich sexually touched her multiple times during the course of the hour session, which would usually only take 20 minutes.

She told the court the appointment started as normal with her laying face down on the bench and Goodrich - who lives in Mosman - used his hands to check her spine.

The woman told the court that as Goodrich moved his hands along her spine, his fingers allegedly touched the sides of her breast but she thought it could have been an accident.

The hearing was hearing in Sutherland Local Court.

The woman said Goodrich then moved his hands down her spine before he allegedly put his fingers on her underwear seam before he walked to his desk to take notes.

The woman said Goodrich allegedly swiped his hands along her calf and up her leg before he allegedly tapped her on the bottom.

She said she turned on her sides and her neck was also adjusted during the session.

The woman said she lay on her back facing up and Goodrich lifted up her T-shirt and started rubbing her stomach in a circular motion.

She said he massaged her up to her bra and to her underwear line and at this time allegedly Goodrich touched his “private part” on her left hip.

The woman told the court that he had never touched her on the breasts, stomach, leg or bottom before, adding she “froze” and was in “shock”.

She said her leg was shaking from anxiety which Goodrich noticed before the session ended and she got up, put on her cardigan, picked up her bag, paid and left.

The woman said she told her boyfriend about the alleged incident two days later before she made a statement to police in September and then called Goodrich to ask about the alleged incident in the presence of police in December.

During cross examination, Goodrich’s barrister Peter Kondich questioned the nature of the woman’s relationship with the chiropractor, questioning her about the personal topics she discussed with him.

Mr Kondich suggested to the woman she had a “crush” on Goodrich and that she had prolonged the chiropractic session by asking to be treated for additional areas including for digestion issues and her knee.

“I suggest during the visit, you wanted to spend time with him because you liked him,” he asked.

“No,” she said.

The woman was positive the sexual touching occurred as she described when questioned by Mr Kondich.

“I suggest my client’s groin did not come into contact with your left hip,” he said.

“I disagree,” she said.

When asked why she did not tell anyone immediately about the alleged incident the woman said, “it is not easy to tell people … I was in shock and did not even understand what happened.”

The hearing will continue on April 3.