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6 months ago
27
A masseur has been convicted of sexually assaulting a string of female clients he met on a popular beauty therapy app.
Married Yuliyan Dimov, 45, took advantage of his victims after they booked sessions with him in their own homes on Urban.
The British platform allows customers to connect to freelance therapists for private sessions but has previously been hijacked by predators.
Dimov, a professional physio, was caught after one woman reported him for assaulting her during a massage in November 2022. Officers contacted others who had sessions with him and they reported similar attacks.
The Bulgarian national was arrested at Gatwick as he tried to board a one-way flight to his homeland on June 15 last year.
Married Yuliyan Dimov (pictured), 45, took advantage of his victims after they booked sessions with him in their own homes on Urban
Police examined his phone and found more than 30 photos women taken without their consent on home visits.
Despite evidence of sexual assault and voyeurism, Dimov, of Enfield, north London, claimed the photos were solely for professional use on his massage website.
But he was found guilty of a string of crimes against ten victims at Wood Green Crown Court.
He was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault, six counts of voyeurism, and two counts of attempted voyeurism.
Detective Abigail Butler said: 'The great work carried out by officers to build this case is only overshadowed by the bravery of the women who came forward.
'If anyone believes they have been assaulted at the hands of Dimov, I urge them to get in touch.'
Despite evidence of sexual assault and voyeurism, Dimov, of Enfield, north London, claimed the photos were solely for professional use on his massage website. But he was found guilty of a string of crimes against ten victims at Wood Green Crown Court (file photo)
Urban, valued at £12 million, has more than 200,000 customers who can pick from manicures, massages and physio in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
But critics have questioned if it has enough checks in place after previous attacks.
Dimov was suspended as a physio following a Health and Care Professions tribunal hearing in July last year. He will be sentenced on June 28.
An Urban spokesman said: 'We are appalled by this man's disgraceful criminal behaviour and are profoundly sorry that his victims endured such distressing experiences.'
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