Anthony Agius 53

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A therapist has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

Anthony Agius, 53, was convicted of four charges of sexual assault at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, following a trial the previous week.

The court heard that Agius touched the victim inappropriately over her clothing, including smacking her bum several times and licking and sucking her neck.

While giving evidence, she told the court he “smacked my bum a few times as well as licking and sucking my neck.”

Prosecutor Tom Wilkins asked her: “Did you ask him, or want him, to touch you in the way you describe?" She replied: "No."

On another occasion, she “begged” him to release her from a headlock that restricted her breathing.

Mr. Wilkins said Agius offered to take the girl to London to buy her whatever she wanted, but her mother refused. He also invited her to dinner at The Ivy in Winchester.

Testifying from behind a screen, the girl said Agius asked her to perform cleaning tasks and spoke to her in a sexual manner.

Defense barrister Giles Bedloe told her during cross-examination: “I'm going to suggest they [the allegations] are not true and that you made them up. They were an afterthought."

He added: "I'm going to suggest that you flirted with Tony. This is all about the messaging. There never was any physical contact. I don't accept there was any headlock, you made that up."

Agius denied all physical sexual contact, claiming the roleplay was her idea in exchange for French lessons. He said he thought “she was old enough” and he was “desperate.”

“It is not something I am proud of,” he added.

Agius, of Allington Lane, Fair Oak, will be sentenced at the same court on November 13.