BALLARAT Magistrates Court has heard a masseur originally charged with the sexual assault of two female clients now faces 60 charges relating to 26 alleged victims.
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Ronald Adrian Van Dorp, 52, of Bacchus Marsh, who is charged with three counts of rape and 57 counts of indecent assault, appeared briefly in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday for a committal mention hearing.
Van Dorp was arrested on October 31 last year after a joint operation between the Moorabool Criminal Investigation Unit and the Ballarat Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Team uncovered the alleged offending, which police said took place at the Vitality Centre in Darley.
A previous court appearance heard Van Dorp allegedly first assaulted a 22-year-old woman on September 14 last year.
Police allege he indecently assaulted the woman while giving her a massage.
After she left, Van Dorp allegedly sent the victim a Facebook message asking if she enjoyed the massage, before following up with a repeat message the following day.
Another alleged incident occurred on October 29 last year when police say Van Dorp sexually abused a 25-year-old woman.
It is alleged he digitally and orally assaulted the woman, before the victim realised what was happening and left the premises.
Both women had been to the business before.
Van Dorp yesterday showed no emotion as his lawyers requested an adjournment for more time to review the large brief of evidence.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose granted the adjournment.
Van Dorp’s bail was extended and he will re-appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on March 13 for a further committal mention hearing.
