A 72‑year‑old masseur and osteopath from Northumberland has denied a series of serious sexual offences relating to 14 women over a ten‑year period. Terence McBrien, of Alnwick, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he entered not guilty pleas to all 55 charges he faces.

The case has attracted public interest due to the number and nature of the allegations, as well as the length of time over which they are said to have occurred. However, the proceedings are at an early stage and Mr McBrien maintains his innocence.

The charges

Court documents and statements heard in open court set out a total of 55 charges against Mr McBrien. These comprise:

• One count of attempted rape
• Seven counts of sexual assault by penetration
• Thirty‑four counts of sexual assault
• Thirteen counts of voyeurism

Prosecutors told the court that the charges relate to 14 women who engaged with Mr McBrien while he was offering services as a masseur or osteopath. The alleged offending is said to have taken place between 2011 and 2021.

Court appearances so far

Mr McBrien first appeared before magistrates for an initial hearing at which the full list of charges was put to him. The case was then sent to Newcastle Crown Court due to its seriousness.

At a subsequent hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the court clerk took several minutes to read out all 55 charges. Mr McBrien responded “not guilty” to each count.

A trial, expected to last around four months, has been listed for April 2027. Mr McBrien has been granted conditional bail in the meantime and is required to attend further pre‑trial hearings.

Background and context

According to information given in court, the complainants are all women who attended appointments with Mr McBrien for massage or osteopathy. The allegations include claims of sexual touching, penetration and covert recording during or around those sessions.

Police have confirmed that the investigation covers a decade‑long period and involves multiple complainants. Officers have acknowledged that the scale of the case may cause concern in the community and have encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact them, while stressing the importance of avoiding speculation while proceedings are active.

Legal position and presumption of innocence

At this stage, the case against Mr McBrien consists of allegations only. He has pleaded not guilty to every charge and is entitled in law to the presumption of innocence unless and until a jury finds otherwise after hearing all of the evidence.

Because criminal proceedings are now active, there are legal restrictions on what can be said publicly about the case. Contempt of court laws are designed to protect the fairness of any future trial by preventing commentary that could prejudice potential jurors. Reporting is therefore limited to what has been stated in open court or confirmed by official sources.

Protection of complainants

In cases involving alleged sexual offences, complainants are legally entitled to lifelong anonymity. This means they must not be identified in media reports or on social media, either directly or indirectly.

Anyone sharing information online that could lead to the identification of complainants risks committing a criminal offence, regardless of whether the information is accurate or speculative.

What happens next

The case will now proceed through the Crown Court process, including further pre‑trial hearings where legal issues, evidence and trial management will be addressed. The trial itself, currently listed for April 2027, is expected to hear evidence from the complainants, expert witnesses and the defence over several months.

Until the conclusion of the trial, no findings have been made about the truth or otherwise of the allegations. The outcome will ultimately be determined by a jury, based on the evidence presented in court and the directions of the judge on the law.