45-year-old masseur used his business “as a cover to sexually harass 10 female clients” while giving them full-body massages, court heard

A “successful” masseur is said to have used his business as a cover for sexually abusing ten female customers while giving them full-body massages, a court heard.

Marcelo Oliveira, 45, is accused of 22 cases of sexual assault and six other serious sexual offenses between March 2019 and July 2021.

Prosecutors allege he took photos of a woman, touched her intimately and told her she had a “beautiful body,” the “most beautiful he had ever seen.”

The woman had undergone a Brazilian bum lift abroad and said she was told that Oliveira's lymphatic drainage massages could help reduce swelling after the surgery.

Jurors were told he also pulled down women's underwear and touched them while pressing his “private parts” against their bodies.

Prosecutors allege he took photos of a woman, touched her intimately and told her she had a “gorgeous body,” the “best he'd ever seen.” The woman had undergone a “Brazilian butt lift” abroad and said she was told Oliveira's lymphatic drainage massages could help reduce swelling after the operation.

Olivera describes herself as an aesthetic technician and has practices in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and London.

He denies the allegations against him.

The trial began on Tuesday at Birmingham Crown Court.

Prosecutor Antonie Muller opened the case by saying: “Oliveira undoubtedly set up his own practice as a massage therapist and was successful. He had clients.”

“In this case,” the prosecution says, “it is about him sexually harassing and penetrating these ten women under the guise of a massage. He pressed himself and his private parts against them, touched a leg and pulled down their panties.”

When questioned, Oliveira claimed he had performed lymphatic drainage massages, which involve moving fluids through the body for a cosmetic effect, and denied having touched the women in a sexual manner.

His first accuser said she found Oliveira's business, MO Massage, on Instagram after being advised that lymphatic massage could aid her recovery from surgery.

She testified that she received full body massages costing £65 an hour at her home in Buckinghamshire and at Oliveira's clinic in Knightsbridge.

She said she would strip naked and added: “He said my pubic bone was very swollen and he needed to massage it to make the swelling go down.”

“This happened in every session. He made slow movements. I just thought it was all part of the process.”

She said Oliveira once touched an intimate part of her body without warning.

The woman testified in court that during the sessions, Oliveira often held one of her hands, covered her eyes and played music.

She said: “He said I had a beautiful body. It was the best body he had ever seen.”

“He asked about my boyfriend, who was sometimes in the next room. He said I didn't need a man.”

Although she initially thought Oliveira might be gay because of his mannerisms, he mentioned that he was married and had children.

The process continues.