Thames Lido: Victims share messages about Toshihide Nukui abuse

That is the testimony of one of the women who survived being sexually assaulted by Thames Lido’s massage therapist.

Toshihide Nukui, of Oaklands, Reading, was yesterday locked up for eight years after he inappropriately touched four Lido customers and sexually assaulted a private client at The Therapy Centre between autumn 2018 and autumn 2019.

READ THE FULL STORY AS THAMES LIDO MASSEUR IS LOCKED UP

In a moving and emotional court hearing, the sexual assault survivors all told how Nukui’s actions affected them.

Thames Lido massage therapist Toshihide Nukui admitted to his offences in March 2022

'I am still very angry'

Reading Crown Court heard an in-person statement from the second survivor, who was assaulted by Nukui in December 2018.

During her massage session, Nukui, 49, arranged the women’s towels so he could touch her genitals.

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Describing how the Japanese national’s actions impacter her, she said: “I left Thames Lido in a state of panic due to me having experienced sexual assault in my childhood.

“I was so angry I had been violated in that way.

“I drove home from the massage and sobbed.

“Although I was brave and demanded he stopped the massage, I was still made to feel violated, vulnerable and overpowered by a man in a position of trust.

“As a woman I have the right to feel safe and this has been taken away from me.

Thames Lido massage therapist Toshihide Nukui admitted to his offences in March 2022

“I am still very angry about happened and I am working through that slowly.”

'I just want a bit of me back'

The third victim - who was assaulted in July 2019 - spoke from Reading Crown Court witness box.

The sexual assault survivor was touched inappropriately on her inner thigh after Nukui repeatedly told her she was ‘attractive.’

She said: “The incident continues to have a negative effect on my life.

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“There is a not a day that goes past that I do not relive the event.”

The lady said she has suffered with IBS, stress, depression and PTSD and is seeing a counsellor to ‘lay her feelings to rest and stop the pain.’

She added: “I just want a bit of me back.

“How I feel has been hijacked by these events brought on by this despicable man, not to mention the effect this has had on my husband and my son who are constantly worried about me.

“I hope he gets the punishment he deserves so he is unable to cause the same pain and suffering to anybody else.”

Thames Lido massage therapist Toshihide Nukui admitted to his offences in March 2022

'I felt incredibly vulnerable'

In September 2019, Nukui sexually assaulted another Thames Lido customer in his treatment room, brushing his hand against her genitals at least six times.

Prosecutor Richard Whitcombe read a statement from the sexual assault survivor.

She said: “The immediate impact was physical. I was in excruciating pain and was unable to sit down for two weeks afterwards.

“I felt incredibly vulnerable and was trying to work out if what happened was appropriate or not.

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“I felt naive for not realising what had gone on.

“I felt as though I had not been faithful to my husband.

“I felt guilty for making light of what I had gone through.

“I was furious for not trusting myself with how I felt.

“I now feel vulnerable when I am on my own. My trust has been severely impacted. I hope as time goes on I will be able to rebuild this trust in professionals.”

Thames Lido massage therapist Toshihide Nukui admitted to his offences in March 2022

'I feel sick at the thought of seeing his face'

Nukui was eventually halted in October 2019 after a client of his reported him to police.

This came after he digitally penetrated her during a private treatment session at The Therapy Centre on Church Street.

Standing behind a screen to avoid eye contact with Nukui, the woman read a statement in court.

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She said: “I could never have imagined the impact being a victim of sexual assault would have.

“I trusted the defendant as a professional. He breached that trust in the most disturbing and distressing way.

Thames Lido massage therapist Toshihide Nukui admitted to his offences in March 2022

“I have thought about what happened every single day since. Often this is when waking up from a nightmare.

“I feel like a different person to the one I was before. I will never be the same again.

“I’m so much more tired and lacking in energy since being assaulted.

“I’m angry that he did this to me and to others, especially in such a position of trust.

“I feel sick at the thought of seeing his face. I never want to give him eye contact.

“I am desperate to feel better and I have no idea how long that will take.”