A MASSEUR and reflexologist has been jailed for four months after indecently assaulting two female clients.

Stuart Hill, 51, of St Agatha's Close, Brandon, admitted two charges of indecent assault when he appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Maurice Carr ordered two similar charges and one of witness intimidation to lie on file.

Hill, a divorced father-of-two, committed the offences while working at the Meridian massage and reflexology salon at Neville's Cross Bank on the outskirts of Durham.

One involved a woman in her fifties, who was suffering from severe pain in the front of her left thigh, went to Hill after two GPs had failed to cure her.

After being successfully treated by the qualified reflexologist and masseur at home, she booked an appointment at the salon in May 2001. She was told to remove her clothes, put on a robe and lie on a bed.

Hill performed reflexology on her foot, before telling her to remove her robe. The court was told he then removed her underwear and indecently touched her, saying it was part of the treatment.

After leaving the salon, the woman complained to her family and contacted the police, who later interviewed Hill. During subsequent inquiries, it emerged that he had also indecently assaulted a woman in her thirties in September 2000.

She had made about 20 visits to the salon accompanied by her husband when, after arriving alone, Hill gave her a massage and indecently assaulted her.

Eric Elliott, defending, described the incidents as totally out of character for Hill, who previously had an unblemished record and was a gifted healer.

Judge Carr said: "Ladies who attend reflexologists and masseurs are entitled to expect either to be informed of what is going to take place or not touched in areas of a private nature. Such conduct is not acceptable from a person in whom women have placed their trust."

Hill will remain on the sex offenders register for seven years.