Urban Massage sex attacker, 45, who sexually assaulted 10 female clients in their own homes after finding them on therapy app is jailed for nine-and-a-half years

 Yuliyan Dimov, 45, was arrested at Gatwick after he tried to board a flight 

A masseur who used a beauty therapy app to find and sexually assault ten female clients in their own homes has been jailed for nine and a half years.

Yuliyan Dimov, 45, took advantage of his victims after they booked sessions with him on the 'Urban' app which allows customers to connect with freelance therapists for private sessions.

Dimov, a professional physio, was caught after one woman reported him for assaulting her during a massage in November 2022.

Officers contacted others who had sessions with him and they reported similar attacks.

The Bulgarian national was arrested at Gatwick as he tried to board a one-way flight to his homeland on June 15 last year.

Yuliyan Dimov, 45, (pictured) used a beauty therapy app to find and sexually assault ten female clients in their own homes has been jailed for nine and a half years

Police examined his phone and found more than 30 photos of women that had been taken without their consent on home visits.

He would then forward the pictures of the victims to a friend who worked for an estate agent.

Despite evidence of sexual assault and voyeurism, Dimov claimed the photos were solely for professional use on his massage website.

He was previously found guilty of a string of crimes against the ten victims at Wood Green Crown Court.

Dimov from Enfield, north London, was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault, six counts of voyeurism, and two counts of attempted voyeurism last month.

Wearing a blue long-sleeved top, Dimov cast occasional glances over to his distraught wife and mother in the public gallery throughout the sentencing hearing on Friday.

Nicholas Dunham, prosecuting, said the messages that Dimov sent to his estate agent friend showed he was planning the offences.

He added 'all the victims in this case clearly have suffered a degree of psychological harm'.

In one impact statement, a victim said that she 'previously believed anyone claiming to be a licensed physiotherapist recommended by a service such as Urban' would 'in fact be a professional and abide by the core ethical principle of 'first do no harm'.

But since the incident she has been 'filled with disgust, horror and humiliation.

'I am haunted by the fact this man inflicted the same type of despair on many other women,' she said.

'He relied on the good-will of polite women doubting themselves, and the reputation of medical professionals being professional.

'I've been plunged into emotional isolation by someone who was supposed to be a healer.'

Another victim said that what Dimov did to her was a 'huge violation of trust', and that she will now 'never use an app again to hire professionals to come into my home.'

'It felt like an invasion into my own home', she said.

One woman referred to now being 'scared to open the door to a postman or a delivery driver'.

Andrew Cohen, defending Dimov, argued that he had still been 'coming into maturity' during the attacks.

'After graduating in physiotherapy in Bulgaria he came to this country in 2002, and did whatever work he could and roughed it a lot', he said.

'He is dedicated to working hard to support his family and pay devotion to his wife.'

Mr Cohen also referenced a letter written by the defendant's wife, wherein she referred to him as a 'fantastic husband' and a 'great provider'.

Sentencing Dimov, Judge Barbara Mensah said: 'Mr Dimov I need to sentence you for 19 counts on this indictment, the jury found you guilty unanimously after a trial lasting about two weeks.

'You were a massage therapist and a qualified physiotherapist, you told us you obtained qualifications from medical college in Bulgaria, as working for several health services in this country, offering services through a booking platform, an app called Urban app.

Dimov was sentenced to nine-and-a-half in prison at Wood Green Crown Court today

'That app allowed customers to browse the app and choose a therapist based on the services they offered.

'In course of massaging them, you took advantage when they were unaware, photographing women without their consent and sexually assaulting them.

'You clearly had a distorted view of your role and your power, and an unjustified arrogance in assuming that you could do this to customers and get away with it because they would not know, or would not complain or they would be grateful for what you were doing to them.

'The probation officer describes your behaviour as thrill-seeking and risk-taking.

'Words that described your behaviour included sneaky, sly, sleazy and manipulative.

'No-one called out, no-one cried out or jumped up, but for the most part they froze in shock and fear, or terminated the session early.

'No-one appeared to have made an official complaint, which no doubt gave you courage to become more brazen in your contacts, moving on shockingly to penetrating with your finger and also your tongue.

'The impact has been devastating and traumatising and also been humiliating in some circumstances.

'I am just about persuaded that the sentences I am about to impose are sufficient to meet both the seriousness of the offending, and also any future risk.'

Dimov was sentenced to five years in prison for two counts of assaults by penetration, three years for all counts relating to sexual assault and eighteen months for three counts of voyeurism - with each sentence running consecutively.

He was also given 12 months in prison for two counts of attempted voyeurism.

Judge Mensah praised the complainants for displaying a 'great deal of courage' in bringing their stories to the court.

A spokesperson for Urban said: 'We are appalled by this man's disgraceful criminal behaviour and are profoundly sorry that his victims endured such distressing experiences.

'They showed enormous courage in speaking out and we thank them for their bravery.

'Our clients' safety is the most important thing to us, and we continually review and revise our platform to create as safe an environment as possible for all our users.'