Massage therapist jailed over Valentine’s Day rape of client - 7NEWS

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A Queensland man has been jailed for the “brazen” sexual assault of a woman in her own home after he was hired to perform a Valentine’s Day massage.

Yevgeny Borodinov, 38, had pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one charge of rape but was convicted on both counts following a jury trial earlier this month.

At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday in the Brisbane District Court, crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said Borodinov should receive a sentence of up to three years in prison for his offending that left “significant and traumatic effects” on the victim.

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“(The victim) has installed security cameras on all her doors,” Andronicus said. “Due to her financial circumstances she can’t sell the house where (the assault) happened.”

“It has affected her intimacy with her husband and her relationship with her children due to her depression.

Borodinov had shown no remorse for his offending, Andronicus said, which took place during what was supposed to be a present for the victim on February 13, 2021.

“This was brazen offending in the victim’s own bedroom in her own home with her partner outside the room and her children in the house,” Andronicus said.


Yevgeny Borodinov has been jailed over the rape of a woman he was paid to give a Valentine’s Day massage to. Credit: Christian Adams/Getty Images

Borodinov’s barrister Sarah Cartledge said part of his sentence should be suspended as he had no prior criminal record and his offending was on the “lower end” of seriousness and did not involve threats of violence.

Cartledge said Borodinov had been born in St Petersburg, Russia, and developed anxiety and a “lifelong fear of being followed or targeted” after witnessing at age six his mother being tied up and robbed in the family home.

Cartledge said Borodinov and his family had fled to Victoria in 1993 during the “turbulent times” created by the fall of the Soviet Union.

Borodinov and his wife moved to Queensland in 2020 in search of better job opportunities but found themselves under financial strain due to a housing shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cartledge said medical authorities had served Borodinov with a notice prohibiting him from practising massage when he was first charged and he would not be able to work in the industry again.

‘Tempted for some time’​

Judge Suzanne Sheridan said Borodinov’s comment during a police interview that he had been “tempted for some time” to abuse clients during massages meant that he needed supervision upon release from custody.

Judge Sheridan said the victim had been enjoying her surprise Valentine’s Day present of a 60-minute relaxation massage until Borodinov started to touch her upper thigh and bottom, which made her feel “weird and uncomfortable”.

“You were on that day employed to provide a professional medical service and the community is entitled to expect that therapeutic practitioners will provide appropriate treatment.

“You were in a position of trust and you abused that position. The (victim) lay vulnerable and in that vulnerable state you violated her.”

Borodinov was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment with parole eligibility after serving half that time.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

In an emergency, call 000.

Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.


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