A REFLEXOLOGIST who admitted indecently assaulting two of his female clients was jailed for four months yesterday.

Divorced father-of-two Stuart Hill, 51, committed the offences while working at the Meridian massage and reflexology salon, at Neville's Cross Bank, on the outskirts of Durham.

Hill, of St Agatha's Close, Brandon, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court where Judge Maurice Carr ordered two similar charges and one of witness intimidation to lie on file.

A woman in her 50s went to Hill suffering from pain in her thigh. He performed reflexology on her foot, before telling her to remove her robe and underwear. He touched her indecently, saying it was part of the treatment.

The woman contacted the police, who interviewed Hill.

During inquiries, it emerged he had indecently assaulted a woman in her 30s. He had given her a massage during which he told her to remove her bra. Then he had touched her indecently.

Eric Elliott, defending, said the incidents were out of character for Hill, who had a previously unblemished record and was a gifted healer.

Judge Maurice Carr said: "Ladies who attend reflexologists and masseurs are entitled to expect either to be informed of what is going to take place or not touched in areas of a private nature.

"Such conduct is not acceptable from a person in whom women have placed their trust."

Hill will stay on the sex offenders register for seven years.