Hairdresser found not guilty of raping teenage clients

There has been a big update in the case of a Rose Bay hair salon owner following historical allegations from three teenage clients.

EXCLUSIVE

One of Australia’s “leading hairdressers” has been found not guilty of raping three teenage clients at his studio in Sydney’s east.

Rose Bay salon owner Emilio D’Aguanno, 80, faced trial in the NSW District Court this month over the alleged historical rape of three clients – who were 15, 16 and 18 at the time - between 1977 and 1991.

Rose Bay hairdresser Emilio D’Aguanno was found not guilty on all counts. Picture: AAP

Mr D’Aguanno always maintained his innocence and said the sexual encounters were consensual.

In the case of the 15-year-old, Mr D’Aguanno said he did not have sex with her until the NSW legal age of consent of 16.

On Friday, a jury ruled Mr D’Aguanno not guilty on all charges.

The verdict comes after Mr D’Aguanno was arrested after one of the women - who is now 64 - reported her allegations to police in 2018.

The two other women came forward with their allegations after reading about his arrest in 2020 in the media.

Mr D’Aguanno was born in Italy and came to Sydney in 1969 at age 25. Picture: News Corp Australia

Mr D’Aguanno was charged with one count of rape, one count of sexual assault with a person under the age of 16 and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

He also faced an alternative count of carnally knowing a girl between the ages of 10 and 16.

Before delivering their not guilty verdict, the court heard how Mr D’Aguanno moved to Sydney at age 25 in 1969, working with fashion figures such as Chanel figure Karl Lagerfeld and taking models on international tours.

The court heard how each of the teenagers agreed to do modelling work for Mr D’Aguanno.

During the trial, Mr D’Aguanno’s lawyer Phillip Boulten SC told the jury his Italian-born client was “debonair” and “stylish” at the time.

He has been acquitted of all charges. Picture: News Corp Australia

“In the 1970s, Mr D’Aguanno was one of Sydney’s leading hairdressers. His salon was actually very fashionable back then, he was not an 80-year-old man. He was very much younger,” Mr Boulten told the court.

“He was an Italian smoothie … He was European, he was popular.

“He photographed many clients, some of whom became models.”

Mr Boulten also told the court that Mr D’Aguanno was always “strictly professional” with his clients.

“The young women who were models and stylists were portrayed very professionally,” he said.

“He has only ever participated consensually in sexual activity with the women that he’s been intimate with over the years.

“He’s never forced anybody to have sex with him, not these three women; no one.”

Mr D’Aguanno declined to comment on the verdict.

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