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UK
NRI Doctor, Hair expert charged with seven offences of sexual assault
London, Sep. 15, 2008
Surinder Singh
NRI doctor, Praminder Mankoo, 46, Leading hair consultant,
Hairologist, of of Bicester Road, Thame, Oxfordshire has been charged
with seven offences of sexual assault which are alleged to have
taken place between July 2005 and June 2007 at a private clinic
in Thame. He told the female victims that they needed stress relieving
massages to help with their scalp problems but instead groped their
breasts under the guise of 'treatment'.
The court heard that Mankoo of Thame, Berkshire, would tell women
to strip to their underwear to avoid getting massage oil on their
clothes. He would then rub their scalp, neck and shoulders, and
reach around to touch their breasts.
The victim, Ms. Rayne Franklin, 48, of Windsor, Berkshire,
said:
- In 1998, I visited his clinic in Thame, Oxfordshire to reassurance
that my hair loss did not run in the family
- He began to massage my shoulders and slowly his hand crept down
until he had a full hold of my breast. Then he ripped off his
coat and stripped naked.
- He pushed my face into his genitals and made a disgusting comment
about seeking satisfaction
- I tried to escape, but Mankoo grabbed my face and tried to drag
my head down.
- He had his hands around my throat. At the end he let me go.
I put my clothes back and made for the exit.
- I was terrified but I knew I couldn't confront him because the
door was locked, there was no one around
- He asked for payment, and said you needed to be booked in for
another appointment.
- Ms. Rayne Franklin paid the payments.
Ten years ago, Mankoo was cautioned by police and Ms. Rayne Franklin
felt that it would be the end of it. I wish I had spoken publicly
about it when it happened in 1998 and maybe he could have been stopped
earlier. What he did to me was wrong, it was very wrong. I was scared
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More complaints:
- One woman came forward and told how Mankoo had removed her bra
and also massaged her thighs and feet.
- Another woman said he had told her that her boyfriend could
not help her and that he would be her 'knight in shining armour',
to whom she should look to for strength.
- Mankoo asked another victim if she would like to meet his 'little
friend
Chairman of the Institute of Trichologists told the court categorically
that no 'massage to help circulation to the scalp should even go
to the front of the shoulders, let alone the breast area'.
Mankoo's lawyer Christine Agnew said her client needed time to
'put his house in order' before sentencing.
Judge Mary Jane Mowat agreed to bail for him until next month.
He can still work in Thame on the condition that he did not offer
any form of massage except for the scalp and not to administer any
treatment at his clinic if another female was not present.
Mankoo was told he would be placed on the the sex offenders' register.
He was cleared of five further counts of sexual assault and one
count of indecent assault.

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