Sentence for Perth massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients delayed - ABC Online

[massage]

The sentencing of an Italian massage therapist who admitted sexually assaulting women has been delayed so a Perth judge can get a psychological report to try to determine why he committed the crimes.

Marcello Scariati had been due to be sentenced today for a number of offences including sexual penetration without consent, and indecent assault.

Some of the women were assaulted whilst he was working as a massage therapist at business in the beachside suburb of Scarborough.

He also exposed himself to a woman who was walking along a footpath in North Beach.

Today, District Court Judge Anette Schoombee said she was reluctant to sentence Scariati and "send to him prison for a very long time" when she did not have a proper explanation of why he committed the offences.

Judge Schoombee said she did not accept the explanation that "there'd been a misunderstanding" and he thought the clients "would like it".

She said she needed a psychological report to determine if Scariati was affected by "deviance" or a mental health problem.

"There's no doubt there is some sexual problem. ... I have no idea what it is, and I need a psychological report," she told the court.

Prosecutor Tanya-Maree Hollaway said the State also did not accept there was no sexual motivation to the offending.

Scariati's lawyer, Neville Barber said his client now admitted there was an "element" of sexual gratification in his offending, but he accepted a psychological report was needed.

Scariati, who is being held in immigration detention, will be sentenced in May.


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