April 2013 – AN OSTEOPATH who groped five people has had his “unduly lenient” 18-month jail term increased to four years   Febuary 2013 Sex abuse clinician jailed – Sexually abused five patients aged 13 to 31 An osteopath who sexually abused patients by insisting it was part of their treatment has been jailed. Mark Piraino, a former student and tutor at the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) in Maidstone, was sentenced to 18 months for a string of indecency charges over a 12-year period. When men and boys went to see Piraino with simple complaints such as a headache or a knee injury, he would tell them to strip naked then touch and fondle their genitals. He denied all wrongdoing, but a jury found him guilty on five counts of sexual activity with a child and a further five of indecent assault. Jailing Piraino at Guildford Crown Court, Judge Michael Addison said his crimes represented “a gross breach of trust”. He now faces being struck off by the General Osteopathic Council. Samantha Cohen, prosecuting, said Piraino, a married father of two young daughters, sexually abused five patients aged 13 to 31, between 1998 and 2010. The offences were committed at the ESO’s Boxley House academic site; at Body Balance in Romford, Essex and the Westway Clinic in Redhill, Surrey. Miss Cohen said the first person abused by Piraino, a 31-year-old, complained of back problems. “He was told to strip down to his boxer shorts,” she said, adding that the complainant was surprised that Piraino’s treatment focused on his groin area. Another male student sought treatment and was told he needed to get an erection to check for possible testicular cancer. After accusations by two teenagers, Piraino was suspended by the General Osteopathic Council, sparking complaints from other victims. Piraino, who was arrested in June 2011, denied any inappropriate or sexual misbehaviour. Miss Cohen said a search of the defendant’s computers found that he was in the habit of accessing adult gay porn web sites, which he would look at while pleasuring himself, often between client sessions at work. Mr Selva Ramasamy, defending, said Piraino, of Redhill in Surrey, had been a man of previous good character and a stalwart of his local church. He added: “He has lost his status within the community and his profession.” Piraino will be put on the Sex Offenders Register. Adrian Barnes, principal at The European School of Osteopathy, said Piraino was a student at the ESO from 1992-1996 before becoming a member of the teaching faculty. He said: “We at the ESO were shocked and concerned to learn of the offences committed by Mr Piraino at the Boxley House academic site. “We are not aware of any similar allegations and/or offences having been committed at our teaching clinic in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, where members of the public are treated. “Our policies, processes and procedures are subject to regular review and have been developed considerably over the last decade. “In light of the offences reported in court, we are, however, reviewing these again to minimise further the chances of such events ever happening in the future. “We have also offered anyone currently involved with the school, whom has been affected by the case, the opportunity to speak confidentially with the ESO welfare officer and will provide such ongoing support as may be required.” December 2012 Osteopath found guilty of groping patients AN osteopath who told patients suffering from back pain, headaches or knee injuries to strip naked before he touched and fondled them has been found guilty of indecency charges. Mark Piraino, a married father of two from Ivydene Close, Redhill, was convicted on Tuesday of five counts of indecent assault and five counts of sexual activity with a child. Guildford Crown Court heard the 40-year-old sexually abused five clients – men and teenage boys – between 1998 and 2010. The offences were said to have taken place at the Westway Clinic in Redhill, at Body Balance in Romford, Essex, and at the European School of Osteopathy in Maidstone, Kent, where Piraino was a tutor. He performed a sexual act on one 13-year-old boy, telling him he needed to be aroused during treatment, and advised a male patient to bring pornography to his sessions for the same reason. The defendant was suspended by the General Osteopathic Council (GOC) after a teenage boy made allegations to the police about his treatment at the Redhill clinic, and it sparked off a series of further complaints, the court heard. Samantha Cohen, prosecuting, said during Piraino’s trial: “The Crown says that the defendant used his practice of osteopathy to touch the complainants in a sexual way.” She said one man went to Body Balance in Romford complaining of problems with his back, but “was told to strip down to his boxer shorts”. Miss Cohen said the complainant was surprised that the defendant had seemed to focus on his groin area during the session. It was only when the man searched the internet and found details of the GOC probe that he decided to make an official complaint, the court was told. Miss Cohen said a student at the Maidstone Osteopathic School complained of being sexually touched by Piraino, while another who sought treatment was told to strip down to his underwear and that he needed to get an erection to check for possible testicular cancer. “Mr Piraino suggested to the student that he should bring some pornography to the session to help him achieve an erection,” she added. Two teenage boys who went to see Piraino at the Westway Clinic at different times were also touched inappropriately and sexually, jurors heard. Miss Cohen said one of them was told to strip naked while the defendant bolted the door of the consulting room. The court was told Piraino was arrested on June 31 last year and denied any inappropriate or sexual misbehaviour. He said one of the boys did become aroused during their session, adding: “It is not unusual in teenage boys.” Miss Cohen said a search of the defendant’s computers found he was in the habit of looking at gay pornography websites. “I want to make it clear to the jury that there were no indecent images of children. These were adult sites,” she added. Piraino was acquitted on one charge of indecent assault on the judge’s direction. The case was adjourned until January 11 next year for pre-sentence reports, but Judge Michael Addison told the defendant: “The fact that I am remanding you on bail is no indication of the sentence I will pass.”