Bogus physio Charles Ahme jailed for sex assaults
A bogus physiotherapist who sexually assaulted women during consultations has been jailed for five years.
Charles Ahme, 50, of Stuart Street, Bradford, admitted 16 sexual assaults and two counts of causing bodily harm at Manchester Crown Court.
The court heard he forged qualifications and practised at his clinic on Moseley Road, Levenshulme.
His arrest came after a patient complained to police in March 2010 that she was assaulted during a massage.
Ahme was also ordered by the court to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
'Web of lies'
Police said that during their investigation, which covered a five-year period, they contacted physiotherapy professional bodies and discovered Ahme's only qualification was a diploma in yoga.
The court heard Ahme used the title of "doctor" and wrote "BSc Physio" after his name in documentation seized by police.
He also falsified certificates by putting stickers of his name over genuinely certificated people's names and then photocopying them, the court heard.
Speaking after the sentence, Det Con Dave Ogden said the investigation after the first complaint had unravelled Ahme's "web of lies".
He said: "He had doctored certificates and given himself false credentials to give him the appearance of officialdom, but in truth he was completely unqualified to practice physiotherapy and his botched treatments meant that many women suffered excruciating pain and needed further treatment to correct his mistakes.
"Ahme also used his position of trust to sexually assault a number of women.
"Those women had no reason to disbelieve his lies, and he abused the trust they placed in him by sexually assaulting them for his own gratification.
"I'm glad that the overwhelming evidence we built up during our investigation meant Ahme had no choice but to admit his guilt."