A masseur who sexually assaulted five women during treatments at a luxury Berkshire spa has been spared a prison sentence.
The Assaults at Nirvana Spa
Ibrahim Ali, 36, carried out the attacks at the Nirvana Spa in Sindlesham, near Wokingham, in November and December of last year. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the victims reported that Ali made them remove all their clothes and wear paper underwear, even when they were unwilling. He then proceeded to pull down the towels covering their bodies lower than was necessary and touched them inappropriately.
Reporting and Investigation
All five women reported Ali's disturbing behaviour to staff at the spa at the time. However, it was only when one of the victims went directly to the police in December 2024 that a formal investigation was launched. The similarity of the accounts from women who did not know each other formed a crucial part of the prosecution's case.
Ali, who had previously admitted to the charges, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court, sitting at Reading Magistrates' Court. He received a two-year jail sentence, suspended for two years.
Sentence and Consequences
The court confirmed that the 36-year-old was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. Furthermore, the CPS stated that Ali must undertake 40 days of rehabilitation activity and complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
In a financial penalty, he has been ordered to pay £500 in compensation to each of his five original victims, plus a further two women who came forward after his conviction, totalling £3,500.
Shilpa Shah, a lawyer for the CPS, commented on the case, stating: 'These women should have been able to feel safe and relaxed during their treatments. Instead, Ibrahim Ali betrayed their trust, leaving them feeling distressed and violated.' She emphasised that the strength of the evidence, with multiple independent accounts, left Ali little choice but to plead guilty and demonstrated the CPS's commitment to securing justice for victims of sexual assault.
