15 Feb 2016

Chiropractor on trial for indecent assault of patients

12:14 pm on 15 February 2016

An elderly chiropractor accused of molesting former patients has gone on trial in the Wellington District Court.

Albert Adams, 70, is facing three charges of indecent assault arising from incidents said to have occurred at his Masterton practice between 30 and 40 years ago.

Crown Prosecutor Matthew Ferrier said Albert Adams had been acquitted at an earlier trial where he was accused of similar offending, but several other men then made fresh accusations against him.

He said all the complainants had similar stories, that they had gone to Mr Adams for treatment of an injury and after a general examination he would look at their groin area on the pretext of clinical concern.

Mr Ferrier said generally the defendant would take down the complainants' underwear and touch them and the Crown said his actions had nothing to do with clinical practice, but were simply opportunistic sexual assaults.

Mr Adam's defence lawyer said his client denied any sexual assault and his procedures were normal and acceptable for a chiropractor.