Man, 74, accused of raping woman at Gold Coast massage parlour

A Gold Coast man allegedly used an online job ad to lure and rape a woman at his wife’s massage parlour, which a court was told appeared to be an illegal brothel. FULL REPORT

A Gold Coast retiree allegedly used an online job ad to lure and rape a woman at his wife’s massage parlour, which a court was told could be an illegal brothel.

The 74-year-old, who cannot yet be identified, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday facing two charges of rape and one of sexual assault.

Police allege the woman went to the massage parlour on Monday after responding to a Gumtree job advertisement for a remedial massage therapist.

The man allegedly took the woman to an isolated room and told her to undress.

It is alleged he raped her digitally and then with his penis.

Police say the woman fled from the massage parlour and reported the incident to police, who then took her to Gold Coast University Hospital.

Her alleged rapist was arrested on Tuesday and has remained in custody at the Southport watch-house since.

Prosecutor Chris Freeman described the Gumtree ad as “false and misleading” during the man’s bail application on Thursday, saying it was presented as a legitimate business with no reference to sexual services.

“He’s proferring himself as a massage business, inviting members of the public to come and apply for jobs … and find themselves afoul of his behaviour,” Mr Freeman said.

“We believe this is not a one-off occasion and I understand investigations are ongoing.”

Mr Freeman said the man being granted bail to live behind the massage parlour was a “significant concern”, as it was likely other employees could become witnesses in the case.

“Maybe it’s just my cynicism arising out of a number of years doing this type of job, but it sounds like what’s occurring here is we’ve got an unlicensed brothel running,” he said.

Mr Freeman later acknowledged the brothel allegations were unsubstantiated, and Magistrate Michelle Dooley said she would not take them into account.

Defence lawyer Danielle Bunning, of Donnelly Law Group, said her client spent about an hour each day working on the business’ finances, as his wife had a gambling addiction and was unable to work with money.

Ms Bunning said the man could complete his work from home and avoid contact with employees and any other prospective police witnesses.

She said he would also be able to report to police as often as required.

Magistrate Dooley refused the man’s bail application, saying the serious allegations and risk of interfering with the investigation outweighed his minimal criminal history and age.

The man will be remanded in custody, with his case to return to court on June 22.