A man, who molested a woman in Southwark while posing as a masseuse, has been jailed.
Jay Steel, 60, was sentenced to eighteen months in prison on Friday (August 5) after being found guilty of five counts of sexual assault at Croydon Crown Court in May this year.
Steel, who is from Stoke, carried out the assault in Southwark on February 2017, as well as another attack in March 2019. Officers said it was “highly likely” that he had carried out more attacks and urged any other victims to come forward.
The victim of the Southwark attack reported it to police and Steel was arrested and released under investigation. Two years later he carried out the other attack in Dollis Hill. Steel was finally charged in April 2021.
The court heard how Steel offered deep tissue massages through a website. The two women signed up for his sessions separately from one another, and were assaulted while Steel was supposedly carrying out his treatment.
Detective Constable Victoria Gaunt led the investigation and said: “Jay Steel is a sexual predator who used the guise of a masseuse to assault women, who had placed their trust in him, for his own perverted gratification.
“The women Steel abused have shown great strength and courage to report their ordeal to police and support our investigation – I hope his conviction brings them some sense of justice.
“It is highly likely that Steel carried out other attacks while masquerading as a masseuse. I would ask any women who believe they have been a victim of Steel to come forward and speak to police. I hope his conviction demonstrates the Met’s commitment to investigating sexual offenders and ensuring they are held to account for their actions.”