Masseuse who claims she was sexually assaulted by former Chesterfield football manager breaks down in tears

James Rowe denies the allegation

A masseuse who alleges she was sexually assaulted by then Chesterfield Football Club manager James Rowe broke down in tears as she was accused of instigating the physical contact between them. The 43-year-old repeatedly told defence barrister Peter Eguae his client’s account of what allegedly took place between them in the massage room was “wrong”.

The alleged victim, whose identity is protected by law, denied “arousing” the 41-year-old married father by massaging his thigh and placing her hand under his boxer shorts. And she told Mr Eguae what he suggested took place between her and the defendant was “disgusting and horrible”

Rowe, of Blind Lane, Breaston, is on trial at Derby Crown Court for sexual assault. He denies the charge. In cross-examination, Mr Eguae said to the masseuse: “Mr Rowe completely rejects what you say happened in the massage room.”

She replied: “You are completely wrong, I am not a liar.” The barrister said: “Mr Rowe’s account of what took place is that he goes into the massage room with you, you start massaging his legs, you reach the top of his left thigh , you push your fingertips under his boxer shorts and brush the side of his (private parts).”

The woman replied: “No, you are wrong.” Mr Eguae said: “As you did this he became aroused and I suggest he did nothing to stop you doing what you were doing and I suggest what you did next was you pulled down his boxer shorts.?”

Breaking into tears, the witness replied: “You are wrong, that’s completely disgusting and horrible.” Mr Eguae then suggested that the alleged victim’s claim that Rowe then told her to delete all of the message between them was also instigated by her and not him.

He said: “You weren’t instructed to delete the messages, you chose to do it.” The woman replied: “No, you are wrong.”

Opening the trial on Monday, October 7, prosecuting barrister Gurdial Singh said the prosecution claims the sexual assault happened at a salon where the victim was then working on November 24, 2011.

He said at the time Rowe was managing Chesterfield who contacted the alleged victim and told her he needed a massage, asked if anyone would recognise him and she told him no, nobody would recognise him.

Mr Singh said: “Prior to attending he sent a text asking what she was wearing, she explained she was in a uniform, but it was clear that wasn’t what he was asking about as he said ‘Frenches or a thong?’ in reference to her underwear. She ignored the message and he said he needed a back massage, but when he arrived that changed and he said it was his groin that needed attention. Had she known she never would have agreed.”

Mr Singh said while at the salon Rowe got on the massage bed and while he was laying on it, proceeded to get his (private parts) out and try to hit her hand with it. The prosecutor said the defendant “then took hold of her hand and tried to put it on it”.

He said: “She kept saying ‘no’, but he kept saying ‘come on, come on’. She took hold of his pants and pulled them over his exposed (area) and told him that he needed to ‘put that away’. His (private parts) did make contact with her hand and her fingers made contact with (it).

“Her colleagues were on the premises, she was upset, and left the room, they asked ‘what’s wrong?’ but she couldn’t bring herself to tell them. She returned to the room in order to finish the back massage he had originally requested, but he wanted her to sit on a stool at the height of his exposed (private parts) for obvious reasons.

“He then kept putting his hand on her leg, she kept removing it and putting it back on the bed. He then said he wanted to look at her tattoo, which is on her back and pulled at the waistband of her trousers to get a look.

“He also tried to undo her tunic to have a look at her breasts, saying “go on, let me just see your ****. You’ve got massive ****”.”

Mr Singh said: “At some point during this he made her delete all the messages that they had exchanged. She told her colleagues what had happened and she also told a client who is a police sergeant.”

Rowe was arrested and in interview answered “no comment” to the questions he was asked, the prosecutor said. The trial continues.