Anthony Agius

Anthony Agius, a 53-year-old therapist who operated a clinic on Bitterne Road East in Southampton, was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison after a trial at Southampton Crown Court where he was convicted of four counts of sexual assault against a 15-year-old girl.

The assaults occurred during therapy sessions when the victim was just 15 years old. The court heard evidence that Agius touched the girl inappropriately over her clothing, including smacking her bottom several times, licking and sucking her neck, and on one occasion placing her in a headlock that restricted her breathing, from which she had to beg to be released. The victim, in a statement read by prosecutor Andrew Houston, described the profound impact of the abuse: 'I can't sleep and have nightmares—I see him in flashbacks. I can see him touching my neck and I wake up crying and screaming. I have lost my appetite and feel sick in my mouth. I am disgusted by what he did to me—I can't stay alone because I'm scared it will happen again. I can't unsee what he did and what he messaged me. It has made me feel uncomfortable to get a hug from my dad.' She also expressed feeling 'disgusted' by Agius's actions, which left her unable to sleep and plagued by flashbacks.

During the sentencing on Friday, Judge Nicholas Rowland addressed Agius directly, stating: 'You knew full well that the victim was 15. You have also given little indication of remorse throughout. The victim in this case was particularly vulnerable. As the victim was just 15, it is fair to say she does not have an understanding or knowledge of the world.' The judge noted Agius's prior convictions for non-sexual offences, including actual bodily harm in 1994, theft in 1996, and driving while disqualified in 2001, but determined they did not influence the sentence length.

In defence, Giles Bedloe argued that Agius's reputation had been severely damaged by media coverage of the trial and that he recognised his communications with the victim were wrong, expressing shame and remorse. However, the court proceeded with the custodial sentence. In addition to imprisonment, Agius, of Allington Lane in Fair Oak, received a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a five-year restraining order against the victim.

The case was reported by the Daily Echo, with details emerging from the trial held in September. Hampshire Constabulary provided the image of Agius used in coverage.