Female spa boss 'sent abusive text to client who accused her of groping him while he waited for male
A HEALTH spa owner accused of drunkenly groping a client while she wore a bikini has claimed he was in a gay relationship with a masseur, a court has heard.
Kerry Brocklebank, 43, said she had walked in on the man when he was lying on a "fluffy throw" in a pose position with his "legs kicked up behind him", wearing just his underpants.
She said she thought she had interrupted an "inappropriate relationship", saying the client, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had looked "shocked and embarrassed" when she walked in.
The owner of the Huntingdon Spa and UK Sports Massage told police: "When I entered the room he looked shocked and embarrassed, I was equally shocked and embarrassed because he was laying in an inappropriate manner."
But Cambridge Crown Court heard she had sent messages to the masseur, Henry Godfree, after the incident on October 11 last year, telling him:"Sorry, did I interrupt your gay time?" and "Believe me, if this goes to court I will ruin the pair of you".
She has been accused of repeatedly rubbing the alleged victim's thighs while he pleaded for her to stop.
The alleged victim claimed she had been wearing a bikini and had been drinking prosecco and champagne before pouring oil onto the client's calves and lower back.
But Brocklebank said the pair were simply "fabricating" the incident to get compensation from her.
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In earlier evidence Godfree told the court that he was not gay and was in fact heterosexual.
Brocklebank from Huntingdon, Cambs, today in court insisted she had worn a "conservative" swimsuit as she had been drinking champagne in a hot tub with a friend on October 11 last year.
She denied claims she was "six out of ten drunk" saying she was "merry" and only spilt a flute of champagne because she was "clumsy".
Jurors heard she told police on October 23 that she was on friendly terms with the alleged victim.
She told police: "I had almost a jovial relationship with [the man] it was very full of banter.
"When he asked me to stop I couldn't believe he was serious I said to him 'I'm a trained massage therapist I will start your calf massage down until Henry gets here for you'."
She added she had only started to massage his calf muscles as an "ice-breaker".
She set up her business in Cambridge in 2010 before relocating to Huntingdon, where she employed sports and beauty therapists on a freelance basis at £20 an hour.
Brocklebank denies sexual assault and an alternative charge of battery.
She also denies perverting the course of justice by sending "offensive and threatening electronic communications" to Mr Godfree between October 10 and November 2 last year.
The trial continues.
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