A 32-year-old woman eagerly anticipated her massage session after hearing it described as “magical” on the popular Kyle and Jackie O show. However, her experience turned into a nightmare as she left the appointment feeling violated and distrustful of professional settings.
The masseur, identified as Goldberg, was subsequently convicted of sexual intercourse without consent and sexual touching without consent in a trial held in November.
The woman had chosen Goldberg after hearing a rave review from radio personality Jackie O, who enthusiastically remarked on-air, “It was something else, oh my god.”
It is important to note that neither Jackie O nor her show co-host Kyle Sandilands are implicated in any misconduct related to this incident.
During the trial, prosecutor Ann Bonnor emphasized that Goldberg had not indicated that his services would include any sexual activities, nor had there been any communication suggesting the woman was open to such interactions.
Goldberg did not mention his services involved anything sexual and there was no communication to suggest the woman might be interested in that, prosecutor Ann Bonnor said.
The woman said he had asked, “Are we alright to keep going?” before the assault, and she agreed because she thought he was referring to the massage.
There was nothing in the tone or the casual nature of the question to indicate he was going to sexually touch her, Bonnor contended, and it didn’t amount to asking clear permission to do so.
She pushed for the 69-year-old to be jailed, citing the need to send a strong message to other massage therapists and health practitioners that the law doesn’t waiver.
But Goldberg’s lawyer, April Francis, argued her client was not a risk to the community given his age and the loss of his ability to work as a masseur.
Goldberg believed the woman had consented and apologised unreservedly for getting it wrong when confronted afterwards during a recorded phone call, she said.
“This wasn’t a case of trying to take advantage, this was a case of trying to provide a therapeutic benefit,” Francis told the court.
“It’s an unorthodox service but one that he was genuinely committed to.”
Goldberg will remain behind bars until he is sentenced in February 2026.
