A SPORTS massage therapist who sexually molested four female clients has been jailed for four years.

Wirral man Chrosphero Caballero built up the confidence of his victims and then assaulted them after dimming the lights and playing romantic music.

The 39-year-old Filipino, of Allport Lane, Bromborough, had been convicted of five offences of sexual assault after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Jailing him, Judge Ian Harris, told him, “You built up your business and there are testimonials from a number of clients which refer to your skills.

“However, there was another side to you, a sexually predatory side. You treated your clients clinically and built up their trust before you sexually abused them….the four victims expected remedial therapy and not sexual abuse.”

He said that the defendant had been determined and no one else was present when he assaulted the women after locking the door and all of whom have been left badly affected psychologically.

The offences spanned a four year period ending in April 2022 and took place at his premises on the Argyle Industrial Estate in Tranmere.

The judge, who pointed out that there is no regulatory body for sports massage therapists, said the defendant “appears to find no fault in his behaviour and continues to deny it.

He has still been practising, under supervision, but is considered by the probation service to pose a high risk of serious harm to females.

The judge ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The women, one of whom Caballero assaulted on two occasions, all returned to court for the sentencing and in their impact statements told of how his behaviour has affected their lives, including flashbacks, panic attacks, the need for counselling and the break-up of a relationship.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said that one of the offences involved the defendant kissing one woman and putting his tongue in her mouth. Afterwards he specifically told her not to tell anyone.

The other offences involved him touching the private parts of the other three women, one of whom had only gone about a frozen shoulder.

One told a friend how he had “done something weird” and said while massaging her hips he moved his hand inside her underwear and commented, ‘nice shave.’

Defence barrister, Gemma Maxwell, said that the defendant, who qualified in the Philippines and had extra training after moving here from Singapore, has an eight-year-old son with autism who will be adversely affected by his imprisonment.

He has no previous convictions and she submitted a testimonial from a Ukranian family who lived with the defendant and his family and they spoke highly of him, she said.

He is divorced but he and his ex-wife had re-kindled their relationship and are still together, added Miss Maxwell.