Masseur Rodney Douglas Flint banned after sex assault clients

A veteran Sunshine Coast massage therapist convicted of sexually assaulting two clients has been banned.

Rodney Flint leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A veteran Sunshine Coast massage therapist convicted six months ago of sexually assaulting two clients has been banned from giving massages or providing any kind of health services, paid or unpaid, the watchdog has announced.

Rodney Douglas Flint, 57, who worked out of a massage studio attached to his Pomona home, sexually assaulted two clients in August and September 2020.

He was sentenced to two years jail, suspended for five years, in the Maroochydore District Court in January.

On June 27, the state’s health ombudsman banned him from providing any health service, paid or unpaid, in a clinical or non-clinical capacity.

“This means the practitioner must not provide any health services at all,” the health ombudsman notice states.

Flint initially denied the allegations when confronted, but later pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault.

One victim was subjected to a sex-act during the massage and then inappropriately touched three times, a second victim was subjected to sex acts without consent by Flint and was inappropriately touched three to four times.

At his sentencing hearing, Flint’s barrister told the court that Flint had between 30 to 40 clients each week and several had continued to receive massages despite knowing of the criminal charges against him.

Flint argued the assaults were the “manifestation of trauma” he suffered previously in his life.

Originally published as Masseur Rodney Douglas Flint banned after sex assault clients