Ipswich physiotherapist accused of alleged patient sex assault to face new trial

A jury has failed to reach a verdict in a trial in which a physiotherapist was accused of taking advantage of a young client.

After deliberating for six hours a jury came back hung on whether or not Ipswich physiotherapist Brandan Than sexually assaulted a young woman twice during an appointment.

Ipswich physiotherapist Brandan Than leaving the Ipswich courthouse after standing trial for an alleged sexual assault committed against a patient on March 3, 2020. The jury returned a hung verdict.

The foreign woman, who has difficulty with the English language, alleged Mr Than touched her inappropriately twice during a massage.

Mr Than denies the allegation.

The Ipswich District Court heard the woman had attended Mr Than’s workplace — a clinic at an Ipswich shopping centre — on March 3, 2020, for an appointment after she had a bad fall.

Crown prosecutor Amy Standard said during an appointment where the woman was lying on Mr Than’s massage table for acupuncture on her bottom, he allegedly removed the woman’s pants and underwear for the duration of the session.

The court heard Mr Than allegedly touched the woman’s vagina twice during the treatment.

The woman originally lodged a complaint with the Health Ombudsman.

Barrister Christopher Wilson, representing Mr Than, said it was unusual the woman did not go to police with the complaint.

Mr Wilson said it was impossible for Mr Than to touch the woman in the way that he did as she was laying face down on the massage table.

Mr Than and the woman both took the stand during the three day trial which began on Monday (July 11).

Originally published as Ipswich physiotherapist accused of alleged patient sex assault to face new trial