Shrewsbury masseur jailed for sexually assaulting disabled girl

Alan Townsend, 56, of Crowmere Road, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday after being convicted of multiple sexual offences following a trial at the same court.

Townsend was arrested in July 2014 after the victim’s father told police that his daughter disclosed she had been sexually assaulted during therapeutic massage sessions.

The abuse began on the second session and continued until the victim told her parents that she did not want him to massage her any more.

Townsend denied the allegations when he appeared at court before a trial started last November.

After trial Townsend was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child, four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of sexual assault.

Claire Nicholls for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Alan Townsend preyed on a vulnerable young female who he sexually assaulted for his own sexual gratification.

“He abused his position of trust and, under the guise of providing massages, he targeted and sexually assaulted his victim.

“I would like to thank the victim for her bravery in supporting this case and enabling the prosecution team to bring this man to justice.”