Masseur pleads guilty to sexually assaulting five women at luxury Berkshire spa

A 36-year-old masseur has pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault by touching after admitting he attacked five women while they received treatments at a luxury Berkshire spa, prosecutors said.

Ibrahim Ali, of Datchet, pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court to offences that took place between November and December of last year at the Nirvana Spa in Sindlesham. The women had attended the spa for back and foot massages when the assaults occurred. Ali was released on conditional court bail and is due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on a later date.

Thames Valley Police said Ali was charged with four counts of sexual assault in July and a further count in September. The offences were committed while Ali was employed by the Nirvana Spa, a health retreat that offers a range of treatments including back, neck and shoulder massages, and advertises specialist services such as a prenatal back and scalp massage. The spa's website also lists a "serenity sleep" back, neck and shoulder candle massage among its treatments.

Investigating officer PC Chloe Palmer of Thames Valley Police said the guilty plea was a positive outcome for the victims and reflected the dedication of the investigation. "Bringing an offender like Ibrahim Ali to justice demonstrates our ongoing commitment to tackling violence against women," she said. "I am pleased we were able to secure this outcome and provide some sense of closure for the victims."

A spokesperson for Nirvana Spa told media outlets during the police inquiry that the business was "aware of the outcome of a police investigation involving a massage therapist who previously worked at Nirvana Spa" and expressed empathy for those affected. The spa said it had carried out an immediate internal investigation, confirmed the therapist had been dismissed and stated it could not comment on an ongoing court case. The retreat said it was committed to ensuring guests felt safe on the premises.

The Nirvana Spa has been frequented by high-profile visitors in the past and markets itself as a luxury sanctuary where "relaxation and luxury go hand in hand." The retreat's membership options include an annual plan that has been advertised at more than £2,000. In recent listings the spa indicated that most foot services would be provided only by female therapists.

Ali remains on conditional bail ahead of his sentence at Reading Crown Court. Police and court records list the offences as sexual assault by touching; no further detail about the victims has been released. The crown court hearing will determine the length of any custodial sentence and any additional orders the court may impose.