A therapist has been ordered to pay over £200,000 in damages to a woman, known as Ella Janneh, who accused him of raping her during a 2016 therapy session. Ms Janneh brought the case against Michael Lousada, who denied the allegations. Lousada had previously said during the £750 session that his penis was “like a laser beam” that could “burn up trauma”. Ms Janneh waived her right to anonymity in the civil case, which she pursued after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to file charges against Lousada.
Ms Janneh told the court that she had experienced panic attacks during consensual sex due to childhood abuse. During the session with Lousada, which caused a panic attack, Ms Janneh felt unable to communicate. She claimed that this left her “incapable of providing valid and informed consent” in relation to sexual activity.
At the civil trial, Ms Janneh was required to prove that she had not given consent to the sexual activity and to sue for damages on the basis of claims relating to negligence, trespass, and assault. Proving that it was more likely than not that she did not give consent rendered a higher standard of proof compared with criminal prosecutions, which demand proof “beyond reasonable doubt”.
Lousada, who now lives in Germany, previously admitted to engaging in penile penetration with around 30 to 40 clients. Barristers for Lousada rejected Ms Janneh’s claims and stressed that he had asked Ms Janneh repeatedly whether she wanted to continue with the session
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