Victims of a "perverted" Adelaide remedial massage therapist who secretly filmed clients undressing at his practice — and ran a child exploitation website — have told an Adelaide court how they feel violated and betrayed.
Key points:
Mark Anthony Gray pleaded guilty to dozens of charges, including indecent filming, producing and disseminating child exploitation material, grooming children for sexual activity and hosting a website to publish child exploitation material.
During sentencing submissions in the District Court today, several victims spoke of their distrust for allied health professionals as a result of Gray's crimes and that they were not sure where the footage had been distributed.
One woman — who was being treated for a back injury — said she now distrusted allied health professionals and could no longer get the help she needed for her injury, which had worsened.
"Getting that phone call [from police] was possibly the hardest hit I've taken in my life," she told the District Court through a victim impact statement.
"This breach of my trust has damaged my relationship with all other health professionals.
"He was meant to help to heal, but he has left me damaged in ways I have never been before."
Victims asked Gray to be given the harshest sentence possible.(
ABC News: Eugene Boisvert
)
She said she found no comfort in finding out many other women and children had fallen victim to Gray's offending.
"I am one of many women who have been impacted by this crime — it horrifies me to think that there are many others suffering through similar physical and psycho-social trauma through this ordeal," she said.
"Hearing that I am not alone has broken my soul.
"I would like to request that Mark is never able to practise massage ever again, ideally that he is never able to work closely with children or adults ever again.
"He does not deserve the chance to harm others."
Sickened by 'perverted man'
Another woman — who was indecently filmed while undressing for a remedial massage — told the court Gray had "completely abused and taken advantage of his position".
"I would never have agreed to Mark touching my body for the purpose of remedial massage had I known he had other sinister motives," she wrote in her victim impact statement.
"I hate that he had touched my body now that I know he is such a perverted man.
"I am very scared and sickened to think of what the videos were used for."
Several victims also asked Judge Ian Press to give Gray the harshest sentence possible and ban him from working as a health professional in the future.
Prosecutor Taryn Amos said Gray should be sentenced as a serious repeat offender.
Gray has been in custody since his arrest in May last year.
The matter will return to court next month.
Key points:
- Mark Gray has pleaded guilty to multiple child sex charges
- His massage clients say they have lost trust in allied health professionals
- They urged him to get the harshest sentence possible
Mark Anthony Gray pleaded guilty to dozens of charges, including indecent filming, producing and disseminating child exploitation material, grooming children for sexual activity and hosting a website to publish child exploitation material.
During sentencing submissions in the District Court today, several victims spoke of their distrust for allied health professionals as a result of Gray's crimes and that they were not sure where the footage had been distributed.
One woman — who was being treated for a back injury — said she now distrusted allied health professionals and could no longer get the help she needed for her injury, which had worsened.
"Getting that phone call [from police] was possibly the hardest hit I've taken in my life," she told the District Court through a victim impact statement.
"What I learnt from that call sent me into a spiral into the darkest place I've ever been in my life.
"This breach of my trust has damaged my relationship with all other health professionals.
"He was meant to help to heal, but he has left me damaged in ways I have never been before."
Victims asked Gray to be given the harshest sentence possible.(
ABC News: Eugene Boisvert
)
She said she found no comfort in finding out many other women and children had fallen victim to Gray's offending.
"I am one of many women who have been impacted by this crime — it horrifies me to think that there are many others suffering through similar physical and psycho-social trauma through this ordeal," she said.
"Hearing that I am not alone has broken my soul.
"I would like to request that Mark is never able to practise massage ever again, ideally that he is never able to work closely with children or adults ever again.
"He does not deserve the chance to harm others."
Sickened by 'perverted man'
Another woman — who was indecently filmed while undressing for a remedial massage — told the court Gray had "completely abused and taken advantage of his position".
"I would never have agreed to Mark touching my body for the purpose of remedial massage had I known he had other sinister motives," she wrote in her victim impact statement.
"I hate that he had touched my body now that I know he is such a perverted man.
"I am very scared and sickened to think of what the videos were used for."
Several victims also asked Judge Ian Press to give Gray the harshest sentence possible and ban him from working as a health professional in the future.
Prosecutor Taryn Amos said Gray should be sentenced as a serious repeat offender.
Gray has been in custody since his arrest in May last year.
The matter will return to court next month.