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Southern suburbs massage therapist Jason Paul Hagon jailed for sexually assaulting nine female clients

This southern suburbs massage therapist told a court he abused nine clients because he wasn’t having his sexual needs met at home. Now, he’s learned his fate.

Massage therapist sexual abuse victims speak

A southern suburbs massage therapist, who said he indecently assaulted his clients because his wife was depriving him of sex in their relationship, is a “calculated” predator who “knew exactly what (he) was doing”, a court has heard.

In sentencing in the South Australian District Court on Tuesday, Judge Joanne Tracey said Jason Paul Hagon, 54 of Morphett Vale, had used his position as a massage therapist to take advantage of nine female clients by touching their genitalia and breasts during remedial massage sessions.

She said his offending, which took place between 2009 and 2021, came after he had established “positive therapeutic relationships” with the women, whose lives were changed after his assaults.

Jason Paul Hagon has been jailed for assaulting nine clients. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Jason Paul Hagon has been jailed for assaulting nine clients. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Massage Therapist Jason Paul Hagon leaves court. Picture Mark Brake
Massage Therapist Jason Paul Hagon leaves court. Picture Mark Brake

“At first, they were shocked, confused and embarrassed,” Judge Tracey said. “There is clearly a common thread between their experiences and the effect that your offending has had on their lives and those of their loved ones.”

“They told themselves that this could not have happened and it must have been an accident. Some are grieving a loss of their former self, struggling to reconcile the person they were before the assaults with the person that they have now become.

“They are fearful something like this will happen to them again.”

Hagon, a father, was first arrested in November of 2021 and initially charged with engaging in sexual intercourse without consent.

In June 2022 he was also charged rape and aggravated indecent assault in relation to four other women. In May 2023, a ninth victim came forward.

He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault in June this year, just before his trial was due to start – a plea his victims said they were grateful for, but came too late.

Hagon was banned from providing services as a hypnosis coach who also offered remedial massage, personal training and life coaching under the business name “Hagon’s Heroes”.

Victims of Jason Hagon gather outside court after he is sentenced.
Victims of Jason Hagon gather outside court after he is sentenced.
The women wore matching earrings as a sign of unity.
The women wore matching earrings as a sign of unity.

Judge Tracey on Tuesday acknowledged that since his offending came to light, his registration as a massage therapist was cancelled, he lost his home and family, and had been fired from his job as a postman that he’d held for 20 years.

However, she said his “pathetic” excuse for his actions and lack of insight into his offending warranted a prison sentence.

“There is never a need for a massage therapist to brush over the genital area. Breasts should never be exposed,” she said.

“You pathetically sought to justify your offending because of your lack of sexual fulfilment with your partner.

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“Over time you grew bolder and more arrogant. Your strategy, it seems, was to cajole these women in to feeling safe with you, encouraging them to feel relaxed with you. They thought you were interested in their lives. You chose to interpret their silence as acquiescence.

“Your offending is made more serious by you continuing to offend despite having been put on notice by police that one of your clients had reported you.”

Judge Tracey sentenced Hagon to a total of six years behind bars, and ordered he serve a non-parole period of four years, nine months and 19 days.

The first to come forward over his offending, Sarah Eccles-Smith outside court said that while the process was over, she and the other victims would always live with the effects of his crimes.

“We never really knew what to expect, but I think what was delivered was better than what could have been,” she said.

“We all still have to live with it for the rest of our lives. It was disgusting and manipulative.

“It’s not anything that you wish for anyone to go through, but we’ve all come together through it.”

Originally published as Southern suburbs massage therapist Jason Paul Hagon jailed for sexually assaulting nine female clients

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/south-australia/southern-suburbs-massage-therapist-jason-paul-hagon-jailed-for-sexually-assaulting-nine-female-clients/news-story/5c9bf8f1c27b18f5d2b2fbb558ee754b