A HYPNOTHERAPIST "commanded" his patient to strip off her clothes and pretend to rub sun cream over herself before trying to "put her under" again and erase her memory.
Ian Roper took advantage of his patient when he put her in a "safe place", removed her bra and ordered her to rub imaginary sun cream all over her body.
The 58-year-old was also later found with five indecent images of children and one prohibited image of a child on his laptop.
He appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Friday September 30, where prosecutor David McGonigal told the court: "He said the only thing that mattered was his voice, and she had to listen to his command.
"He told her she was lying on a sun bed getting hotter and needed to rub imaginary sun cream on herself."
The court heard when the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, woke up from her hypnosis session, the defendant tried to "put her under" again and told her he would erase her memory.
Mr McGonigal said: "She managed to come round and pushed the defendant away.
"She wanted to get away as soon as possible."
Defence counsel Ian Brook said: "He's no intention at all to continue hypnotherapy with ladies or gentlemen."
Mr Brook also told the court his client was a qualified hypnotherapist and had tried to set up his own practice, although it was unsuccessful.
The court heard Roper, of Calderdale, West Yorks., had originally denied to officers that he had sexual relationships with any patients.
However, after indecent images were found on his laptop, the defendant did plead guilty at his trial and admitted to both causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and possession of the indecent images.
Recorder David Gordon said: "It is clear from her victim impact statement that she has suffered no serious physical injury, but she has suffered severe psychological harm."
Roper was sentenced to 29 months imprisonment, 25 months for the sexual offence and four months for the indecent images of children.
In addition, he was put on the Sex Offender's Register for 10 years and will be subject to a restraining order to prevent him contacting the victim.
Recorder Gordon also made him subject to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will prevent him from working as a hypnotherapist.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are in need of information and support, please email us at helpline@womensaid.org.uk.
The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
