Ragdale Hall spa therapist is jailed for six years

Batini Mpofu took advantage of women by fondling their breasts, buttocks and groins during treatments.

Last month it took a jury at Leicester Crown Court less than an hour to find Mpofu guilty of five counts of sexual assault on three guests and a staff member at the spa.

On Thursday he was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court where Judge Charles Wide, QC, told him: "This was a serious breach of trust.

"You were in a professional relationship with your clients. They were in a very vulnerable situation and you abused your position and did so repeatedly. "

Judge Wide also said the case 'raised the question' of whether procedures at Ragdale Hall provided sufficient safeguards for clients who were being intimately massaged. He also questioned the spa's procedures for dealing with compliants from clients.

The court was also told that a fifth alleged victim had come forward after reading of the case. Vanessa Marshall, prosecuting, said Mpofu was expected to face a further charge in relation to the fifth woman.

Mpofu, of Western Park, Leicester, was also given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to stop him offering his services as a therapist in future. He had denied five counts of sexual assault between July 2007 and September 2008.

In a statement Ragdale Hall said: "Batini Mpofu abused the trust placed in him. We extend our sincere sympathy to those affected and deeply regret this abuse of trust.

"In September 2008, following a second, more detailed complaint, the police were called and Mpofu was dismissed. Then two further complaints against Mpofu came to the management's attention, which we reported to the police.

"Mpofu's conduct was both shocking and unprecedented. Over our 36 year history, our highly trained therapists have undertaken over four million treatments leading guests to regularly vote us as one of the UK's premier spas. We wish to assure everyone that Ragdale Hall's management and dedicated staff continue to strive hard to maintain the highest of industry standards and levels of service that our guests have come to expect."