Former Saskatoon massage therapist in prison for sexual assault ... - CBC.ca

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Mark Donlevy used his imposing size and position of authority to systematically prey on women in Saskatoon for more than a decade, sexually assaulting his victims on dates and in his home massage therapy studio, according to details heard in court.

The 54-year-old is serving a seven-year prison sentence for assaults between 2004 and 2016. On Thursday, he admitted in a video appearance at Court of King's Bench to two more assaults, in 2011 and 2012. One happened to a massage client, the other to a woman he briefly dated.

Prosecutor Sheryl Fillo described the attacks as "horrific and intimate."

Justice Natasha Crooks accepted a joint sentencing submission from prosecutors Fillo and Aaron Martens and defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle. She sentenced Donlevy to an additional 33 months on one count, to be added to his existing sentence, and then another 12 months on the second count, to be served concurrently.

Crooks spoke directly to one of the victims who was in court to describe the impact on her life, telling her to "hold your head high" and praising her for showing the courage to come forward. "You did nothing wrong," she said.

The lawyers presented an agreed statement of facts that detailed the assaults.

In one case, Donlevy met his victim during a free massage session he offered while finishing his massage therapy training. He massaged her buttocks, thighs and breasts and rubbed his hand against her genitals under the pretext of treating her upper back pain.

In her victim impact statement, she said that "she left feeling violated" and is still uncomfortable around male professionals.

In the second case, from June, 2012, the victim recounted she had met Donlevy on a dating site and the pair met for a coffee date. He then invited her to his parents' home on Saskatchewan Crescent to watch a movie.

She said that, instead of a movie, he became physically aggressive, repeatedly pushing her down onto a couch and trying to wedge his knee between her legs.

"No, this is not what I want, this is not why I came here," she told him repeatedly.

"She felt sick to her stomach because she knew what was coming," Fillo said.

The woman said that the assault "changed who I am."

Donlevy admitted to the facts of the assaults as presented in court.

Pfefferle said that, since going to prison, Donlevy has taken sex offender programming and is gaining an understanding of his behaviour.

The 54-year-old's background is in the military, martial arts and fire fighting, and Pfefferle said he fell into "the machismo of the male-dominated industry."

"He has insight into his offences, and knows where he has to go."

Donlevy apologized to his victims and said he accepts responsibility for what he did.

Crooks also spoke directly to Donlevy.

She said that "sex offences are never just about sex,' but also involve an offender's personal history, and power or control.

"You will need to develop self awareness or you will end up in court again."

Donlevy is prohibited from ever contacting his victims and will stay on the national sex offender registry for life.