Hypnotherapist sexually assaulted woman he placed under a trance – The Telegraph

A hypnotherapist has been jailed for carrying out an assault on a woman he had placed under a trance.

Ian Roper, 58, told his victim to imagine she was lying on a hot sunbed before commanding her to undress and cover herself in imaginary sun cream.

When the woman came round and realised what was happening, Roper attempted to hypnotise her again, ordering her to forget the incident.

But instead she went to the police and Roper was charged with causing her to engage in sexual activity without her consent.

Bradford Crown Court heard how the qualified hypnotherapist had assaulted the woman during her second session with him.

David McGonigal, prosecuting, said the defendant had initially put her under by touching her shoulder and had then taken her to her safe place.

Mr McGonigal explained: He said the only thing that mattered was his voice, and she had to listen to his command.

He told her she was lying on a sunbed getting hotter and needed to rub imaginary sun cream on herself.

The prosecutor said Roper had taken the womans bra off and had instructed her to remove her clothing as she continued to rub herself with the imaginary cream.

He said when she had come round she had pushed the defendant away but when she had attempted to get dressed he had tried to put her under again, telling her she would not remember what had happened.

When police analysed Ropers computer, they discovered five indecent images of children and one prohibited image of a child.

Roper initially claimed the allegations against him were false but later admitted the offences when he appeared in court.

Sentencing him to 25 months imprisonment for the sexual offence and an extra four months for the indecent images, Recorder David Gordon said Ropers interests had been motivated by selfish and sexual desires.

He said: You were purporting to administer a therapeutic treatment but it is clear you never intended anything of the sort and your interest was selfish and sexual.

The judge also said that Roper would have to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and enforced a restraining order against him.

Recorder Gordon further imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which includes a ban on Roper working as a hypnotherapist.

Read the original post:

Hypnotherapist sexually assaulted woman he placed under a trance - The Telegraph