From the Australian

A SHAM spiritual healer who indecently assaulted his clients has been jailed for more than three years.

Stawingua Dresen, 64, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and was found guilty by a Victorian County Court jury of a further three counts.

The Melbourne court heard he indecently assaulted the six women who came to him for treatment between January 2003 and January 2007.

Dresen, from Bonnie Doon, north-east of Melbourne, had assaulted the women in Rowville, Toolangi, Cobram and Bonnie Doon.

Judge Michael McInerney said Dresen was a charlatan who duped clients who had placed their trust in him.

He said there were no professional bodies to govern Dresen and his qualifications “probably came from the back of a cornflakes packet”.

Dresen, who had similar prior convictions, was jailed for three years and three months.

He must serve a minimum of three years.

Judge McInerney said he hoped Dresen would abide by his vow never to practise again.

Czech-born Dresen changed his name by deed poll from Dieter to Stawingua.

He claimed to specialise in massage, spiritual healing, kinesiology lymphatic drainage and somatic therapy.

In Dresen’s earlier pre-sentence hearing, the judge said: “Young women should not subject themselves to treatment in these circumstances unless they are aware of the professional qualifications of these people.

“Otherwise you are subjecting yourself to these very dangerous situations.”

Judge McInerney said it beggared comprehension that Dresen, who had no qualifications, was able to continue treating people after serving jail time for raping and drugging some of his patients.

While there is no law preventing unregistered alternative practitioners from treating the public, the Australian Traditional Medicine Society has 11,000 members, and urges consumers to be vigilant about their choices.