A PERVERT who tricked two women at a holiday resort into believing he was a professional masseur has admitted two counts of sexual assault.

Zoheir Maleki, 33, wore only a Center Parcs towel when he approached his first victim near the sauna at Longleat and offered her a complimentary ten-minute massage in January.

The court heard the victim was completely convinced that Maleki was a genuine member of staff and accepted the offer.

He asked her if she had any problem areas and she said her back and shoulders.

She sat down wearing only a swimming costume and he began rubbing her shoulders and then her thighs. His fingers went between her thighs, but did not touch her genitals, the court heard.

He removed the straps from her shoulders and began rubbing her back, before parting her legs. At one point, the victim’s breast became exposed.

She covered up and took Maleki’s hand and put it on his hip, the court heard. When she opened her eyes and saw he was completely naked, he told her: “It’s OK, I’m a professional.”

The second victim was coming out of the sauna when he approached her and offered her a massage, which she accepted. During the massage, he asked her to remove her bra.

Defending, Michael Jones said Maleki had been going through “a rather acrimonious divorce” and had drunk alcohol and smoked cannabis before entering the sauna room.

“His inhibitions and thought processes were somewhat relaxed,” Mr Jones said, adding that his client accepted he had “overstepped the mark”.

He was taking anti-depressants and battling anxiety.

The court heard Maleki had massaged friends in the past.

The judge, Simon Cooper, adjourned the hearing at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Friday for a pre-sentence report.

He said: “It is a serious matter and I have to consider the risk of sexual harm to the public. There was a degree of planning and potentially an abuse of trust.

"The livery of Center Parcs was used to fool people into exposing themselves.”

Maleki, of Roman Road, Southampton, was released on conditional bail to appear for sentencing on September 9.

The judge warned him that prison “could not be ruled out”.