Sex assault masseur ruined dream holiday (From York Press)

Sex assault masseur ruined York family's dream holiday in Turkey

9:12am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

A FURIOUS York couple have told how their dream family holiday in Turkey was ruined when their nine-year-old son was indecently assaulted by a masseur.

The couple said they were so traumatised by the alleged incident, which happened at a Turkish bath at their hotel, that they came home five days early.

They claimed the massage had been recommended by tour operator Thomson as one of its “out and about” excursions which children specifically would enjoy, but it had since refused to pay them any compensation, saying neither it nor the hotel could be held liable for the man’s actions.

A Thomson official offered counselling, but told them: “This is a criminal matter and it is not appropriate for us to compensate in these circumstances.”

The official also said that because the couple had not wished to involve the police, no statements had been taken and no action had been taken against the man.

The boy’s mother said they only decided not to involve police because a Thomson welfare representative at the resort had advised it might be traumatic for their son. They now feared another child might also be abused if the masseur was still being allowed to work.

She said they had worked hard all year to save up £5,500 for the fortnight’s package holiday last summer, believing it would be a secure family environment.

She said she and her son went for the Turkish bath and oil massage together but could not easily see each other because they were positioned feet-to-feet.

She was unaware anything was amiss but afterwards asked her son how he had enjoyed the experience. “He asked if during the Turkish bath massage the man had put his hands down my pants? I said he hadn’t and asked him to explain what had happened.” Her son told her the man had lifted his shorts when he was lying on his back and touched his “privates” and later also his bottom.

The mother said that after telling hotel staff, they questioned the masseur, but he denied the claims, and she was told management would keep an eye on him in future.

Her doctor later wrote to Thomson saying the incident had left her stressed, anxious and low, and she needing counselling and medication to help her sleep.

The couple said they had trusted Thomson’s recommendations and felt it was taking no moral or ethical responsibility.

“We only wanted to be compensated for what we lost out on and feel let down Thomson can behave like this,” said the mother. “We shall never use them again.”

Thomson told The Press it took incidents of this type very seriously and it was “deeply concerned” to hear of the incident involving the couple’s son.

“As soon as our resort team were made aware, they did everything possible to be of assistance to the mother and her son, as well as offering counselling, which was declined,” said a spokesman.

“Our legal team also contacted the mother as soon as she returned to offer further assistance and to see if there was any other help we could provide.

“It was not our intention to cause any unnecessary upset to the mother and her son at what must be a very difficult time. This was a criminal act which cannot be attributed to a hotel or tour operator, but to the individual in question. Therefore we will not be offering compensation.

“It is our responsibility as a tour operator to offer our customers support, and our offer for counselling is still open to the mother and her son, should they change their minds.”