Massage therapist sentenced to nine months for sexual assault - Windsor Star

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Ahead of his sentencing for sexually assaulting four female clients, Shawn Boycott walks into Superior Court Monday, January 13, 2020. Dax Melmer / jpg


The actions of a former local massage therapist who sexually assaulted four female clients were “disgusting” and “serious,” a Windsor judge said Monday before handing down a nine-month jail sentence.

“These acts, quite frankly, are disturbing,” said Superior Court Justice Kirk Munroe in sentencing Shawn Boycott, 49. “They show a contentious disregard for the personal integrity of the women you’re serving. You violated these women.”

In November, Boycott pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault for touching massage clients in varying states of undress on their breasts and genitals, and placing his clothed genitals in the open palms of some victims, all over a nine-month period in 2017.

Boycott also pleaded guilty to one count of committing an indecent act for masturbating in front of a woman who was not a client during the same period.

Several of the victims sat stoically in court during the sentencing. Their names are protected by a court-imposed publication ban.

“I would like to express my sincere apologies and my remorse for my conduct,” Boycott said when Munroe offered him the opportunity to present a statement. Boycott also acknowledged the “harm” he had caused the victims.

Ahead of his sentencing for sexually assaulting four female clients, Shawn Boycott walks into Superior Court Monday, January 13, 2020. Dax Melmer / jpg


Munroe did not read aloud the three victim impact statements submitted to the court, but said one woman wrote of having nightmares since the assault. Another took a six-month leave from work as a result of Boycott’s actions.

“You threw her life into a tailspin with which she continues to struggle,” Munroe said of one victim.

The sexual assaults occurred between April and December 2017 while Boycott was employed at several local massage businesses, including fitness clubs and The Spa by Windsor Arms at Caesars Windsor.

Boycott, a first-time offender, was arrested in January 2018 after a single complainant stepped forward to police. Following news reports of Boycott’s arrest, seven more women came forward with allegations against him.

“Because of the media coverage, other women who were questioning themselves came forward,” said Assistant Crown Attorney Jennifer Holmes. “These women are brave and should be commended for coming forward.”

The women who came forward to police with allegations against Boycott ranged in age from 17 to their mid-50s.

This has to be controlled not only for your sake, but for the sake of the community.

Outside the courthouse, Holmes told reporters the victims were content they did not have to endure a trial, but they “wish (the sentence) was more.”

Boycott’s massage therapist licence was suspended when he was initially charged. He told the court he recently sent in his resignation as a massage therapist.

Munroe sentenced Boycott to nine months in jail for the four counts of sexual assault to be served concurrently with a 30-day sentence for the single count of sexual misconduct. The sentence was a joint submission by the prosecution and the defence.

He was also put on 18 months probation, during which time he has been ordered to continue with counselling treatment. Munroe agreed Monday to recommend Boycott also undergo a counselling program during his jail sentence.

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Boycott will be placed on the sexual offender registry for life.

He must report to a probation officer within five days of his sentencing, submit DNA to the police DNA registry and pay a $500 victim fine surcharge within 90 days of his release from custody. He is prohibited from possessing any weapons, and from associating or communicating with any of the victims or going to their homes or places of work.

“This has to be controlled not only for your sake, but for the sake of the community,” Munroe said.

tcampbell@postmedia.com

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