A qualified masseur, Christopher Barnes, 46, has been jailed for four years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting three women.

Barnes was sentenced on Friday (October 29) at Liverpool Crown Court. He was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting clients at his Rose Lane clinic.

One of the victims told Barnes she hoped he "rotted in hell" for the damage he had caused her.

Prosecutor Michael Scholes told the court that Barnes touched the breasts and groins of six women who booked treatment at his clinic. Barnes, of Wellington Street, Garston, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against two women in 2018. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, in June 2019.

However, after reading about Barnes in the ECHO, more women came forward to report being sexually abused by him. In total, Barnes molested eight women during massages, abusing his position of trust to take advantage of clients suffering from pain and stress.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, stated that Barnes committed three sexual assaults after being arrested and interviewed by police in April 2018 following claims by two other women. He said, "It is also an aggravating feature of this case that you sexually assaulted three women after you had been arrested and interviewed in relation to the allegations made by two other women. In addition, the fact that you committed offences against eight different women indicates that these offences were not the product of a momentary lapse of judgement but instead suggests a degree of planning in that you were, in my view, looking out for suitable victims."

Judge Flewitt also highlighted that Barnes used his status as a qualified masseur to carry out the assaults. He said, "I recognise that, when you committed these offences, you were a properly qualified masseur, not a charlatan pretending to have skills which were beyond you. However, that fact is of limited value because it means that you were well aware that what you were doing was inappropriate and of no therapeutic value."

Judge Flewitt acknowledged the significant impact Barnes had on his victims. One victim told the jury, "It felt like parts of it were more for his gratification than what I'd agreed to which was a relaxation treatment." Another victim said, "I felt like I was being abused and taken advantage of. I'm a very proud woman and to be touched in those areas was mortifying for me."

When sentencing Barnes, Judge Flewitt said, "You committed offences against eight different women. You continue to deny the offences and show little or no remorse. Your continued denials increase the risk of harm to lone females."

Barnes was jailed for four years and will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order upon his release on licence.