The affected person of a celeb TV intercourse therapist has received a case over allegations he raped and sexually assaulted her throughout a session.
Ella Janneh, 37, has been awarded greater than £200,000 in damages after she introduced a swimsuit towards Mike Lousada – a outstanding intercourse coach who has appeared on reveals reminiscent of This Morning, in articles for main press retailers and in a video sequence on Durex’s YouTube channel.
Ms Janneh alleged in her civil swimsuit that Lousada raped and sexually assaulted her on 18 August 2016 at his clinic in Belsize Park, throughout a remedy session to deal with panic assaults she skilled when having consensual intercourse. Ms Janneh, who has waived her proper to anonymity, had suffered sexual abuse as a toddler.
The incident was reported to the Metropolitan Police the day after. Nevertheless, in Might 2018, the Crown Prosecution Service knowledgeable Ms Janneh it will not be pursuing a legal prosecution.
Ms Janneh introduced a civil swimsuit, represented by legislation agency Leigh Day, and a trial was held over 10 days in April and Might this 12 months.
In a witness assertion to the court docket, Ms Jannah stated Lousada instructed her in the course of the session to behave like a toddler, triggering a “full-blown panic assault” and dissociation. Lousada proceeded to penetrate her and commit a number of sexual assaults.
He reportedly instructed her: “I believe we must always use my penis energetically to soak up the trauma. The pinnacle of the penis can act, like a laser beam and expend the trauma.”
It was Lousada’s declare that she had consented to the penetration, which Ms Jannah denied, and that he didn’t direct her to behave like a toddler.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Mr Justice Baker stated he had little doubt that Lousada instructed Ms Jannah to regress into her childlike state earlier than touching her. He stated this induced a dissociated state such that when Lousada advised he would penetrate her vagina along with his penis, she lacked the capability to consent.
The judgment stated: “I’ve little doubt that in the course of the latter a part of the session, the defendant did instruct the claimant to regress into her childhood state of being an abused little one, after which he touched her in varied methods, together with kissing and primarily fondling her physique, inflicting her to change into dissociated.”
Mr Justice Barker stated he had “little doubt” that what Ms Jannah had stated in her police interviews in 2016 was a “truthful factual account of what had taken place”.
He stated: “I take into account that an award of basic damages of £105,000 is justified on this case.”
In keeping with the judgment, in 2013 Lousada shaped a voluntary skilled physique referred to as the Affiliation of Somatic and Integrative Sexologists (ASIS) to create moral codes for these finishing up what he referred to as “psychosexual somatic remedy”.
Mr Justice Baker discovered Lousada, who continues to be in a position to practise, failed to tell his purchasers that he didn’t adhere to these codes.
He added: “Having listened with care to the defendant giving proof on this case, I’m glad that the dimensions of his confidence in his personal talents was such that his notion of actuality grew to become clouded by his sense of self-worth.”
In a civil case the claimant has to fulfill a decrease customary of proof than in a legal one. A civil case requires the claimant to show their case “on the steadiness of possibilities”, relatively than “past affordable doubt”.
Following the ruling, Catriona Rubens, from Leigh Day, stated: “This judgment is a powerful victory for my shopper Ella Janneh, who has fought tirelessly to hunt justice for Mr Lousada’s rape and sexual assault of her within the title of ‘remedy’.
“Critical questions now should be requested of the system: the police, the CPS, and the truth that therapists like Mike Lousada can act exterior any type of regulatory or moral framework.
“It should not be left to survivors like Ella to struggle particular person civil claims, at big private value, to be able to carry sexual violence and abuse of energy to mild.”
Following the court docket ruling, Lousada stated in a press release: “I’ve instructed each the police and the court docket what occurred that day, and you’ll recognize that I’m very disenchanted that my proof has been rejected.
“I not have interaction on this type of work and haven’t achieved so because the incident in query. I used to be looking for to assist Ms Janneh and by no means supposed to trigger her any hurt. I’ve at all times regretted the end result and the results on her, and I want her nicely for the long run.”
Reckitt which owns Durex “Michael Lousada was featured in a sequence of movies for Durex on YouTube in 2021, that are not on our channel. As a accountable organisation, we don’t condone any type of sexual misconduct.” The movies in query have been nonetheless on the You Tube channel as of Wednesday morning previous to The Unbiased approaching Reckitt for remark.
Rape Disaster gives assist for these affected by rape and sexual abuse. You’ll be able to name them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Eire, or go to their web site at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. In case you are within the US, you’ll be able to name Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
This story was up to date at 12:19 on 6 June with a remark from Reckitt.
