Ella Janneh wins civil case against therapist for rape in Supreme Court

Updated 2 minutes ago

A woman who accused a therapist of raping her during a therapy session has been awarded more than £200,000 in damages after winning a civil case against him.

Ella Janneh sued 57-year-old Michael Lousada over allegations that he raped and sexually abused her in his clinic in London’s Belsize Park district in August 2016.

The High Court heard that during the £750 session he said his penis was “like a laser beam” that could “burn away trauma”.

Ms Janneh, who waived her right to anonymity, brought the proceedings after the CPS decided not to press charges against him.

Warning: This article contains details that some may find disturbing

In handing down the verdict, Judge Jeremy Baker said the evidence on Ms Janneh’s behalf was “extremely strong”.

The court had previously heard that Ms Janneh had neither asked for nor consented to the use of penile penetration as a “therapeutic technique”.

Mr Lousada, who appeared as a guest on ITV’s This Morning, denied the allegations and said he repeatedly asked Ms Janneh if she wanted to continue with the meeting.

Ms Janneh told the court that she had sought out Mr Lousada after suffering panic attacks during consensual sex because she had been abused as a child.

She said she suffered a panic attack during the session, which consequently left her unable to communicate and “unable to give valid and informed consent.”

Ms Janneh, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia, reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police a day later, but the case was dropped in May 2018, the court heard.