A masseur who sexually assaulted five women at a luxury spa has received a suspended sentence, avoiding immediate jail time. Ibrahim Ali, 36, from Datchet, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault by touching in September. He was sentenced at Reading Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The assaults occurred while Ali was employed at Nirvana Spa in Wokingham, Berkshire, where the victims had booked back and foot massages between November and December last year.

During the sentencing, Ali was given a two-year concurrent sentence for each charge, which is suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service and pay £500 in compensation to each of the five victims, as well as £500 to two other women. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed for a duration of ten years.

The judge remarked on Ali's abuse of trust, stating, "This man is a danger to women when alone with them."

In response to the case, Nirvana Spa issued a statement expressing empathy for those affected. They confirmed that Ali was dismissed promptly after the first victim reported the issue. The spa emphasised their commitment to customer safety, stating, "The safety, trust, and well-being of our customers and colleagues have always been, and will always remain, our highest priority."

Nirvana Spa, which boasts an annual membership fee exceeding £2,200, promotes itself as "the UK’s leading pure water retreat" on its website.

Investigating officer PC Chloe Palmer commented on the case, saying, "This guilty plea represents a positive outcome for the victims in this case and reflects the dedication that went into this investigation. Bringing an offender like Ibrahim Ali to justice demonstrates our ongoing commitment to tackling violence against women. I am pleased we were able to secure this outcome and provide some sense of closure for the victims."