Hypnotist’s victims share mental torment following sexual assaults while hypnotised and vulnerable

A grub Camberwell hypnotherapist referred to one victim’s body as a “floppy ragdoll” during a sickening reign of sexual offending against two women.

Camberwell hypnotherapist Paul Stephen-Daly was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 11 to sexually assaulting two of his clients.

Two women have shared their harrowing experiences after a Camberwell hypnotherapist sexually assaulted them under the guise of treatment, leaving them both with symptoms of PTSD.

Paul Stephen-Daly, 82 returned to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 11 where he was sentenced to a two year Community Corrections Order after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting one woman and sexually touching another six years later, all while they were his clients.

The grandfather, originally from England, operated as a hypnotherapist for many years in Melbourne’s east before he “handed in his ticket” following the police investigation.

In court documents obtained by the Herald Sun, Stephen-Daly was exposed for previously assaulting a woman in 2015 and sexually touching another woman in her 20s in 2021.

The court heard one victim had reached out to Stephen-Daly to help treat OCD, initially believing she had “found a solution”.

“I placed my faith in him but he pushed me further into darkness,” she said.

Stephen-Daly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for sentencing as two of his victims read out impact statements to the court. Picture: David Crosling

The victim said she lived “in constant fear of being watched” and that she had been left believing he was watching and “waiting to take control” in her vulnerable moments.

“I now suffer from PTSD and have to take medication to sleep as I have nightmares,” the court heard.

“I’m in constant fear that those closest to me might unexpectedly turn against me.”

The second victim told the court she approached Stephen-Daly to help treat her anxiety, having been previously deterred by traditional therapy treatments.

“I gaslit myself for months,” she said.

“I thought I was safe with a grandfather in his 80s with so many daughters of his own.”

The court heard Stephen-Daly had “manoeuvred” the victim’s body into “uncomfortable and sexual positions”.

“He referred to my body as a floppy ragdoll and treated me as such,” her statement said.

The victim said she too now suffered from PTSD symptoms, often lying awake at night for hours where she said her mind was “absolutely consumed with thoughts of what he did”.

Stephen-Daly gave his clients massages that went “beyond what was clinical”, including lifting clothing, placing hands under clothing and touching intimate areas, all without consent of his victims.

One of the victims told the court she will never seek out a male practitioner or care giver again.

“You claim that you run your business to help people,” she said.

“Stop saying that, you’ve made my life tenfold worse.”
In court on Monday, Magistrate Belinda Franjic said Stephen-Daly’s was “inherently serious”.