Psychologist 'forced bulimic client to wear dog collar'

From Austrailia's news.com

A leading Perth psychologist forced his bulimic client to wear a dog collar, sexually assaulted her and whipped her with a wire coathanger and cat o'nine tails, saying it was part of a new treatment, a Perth court was told yesterday.

Bruce Beaton, 64, was arrested after police set up secret recordings of him with his 22-year-old alleged victim on the phone and placed a hidden camera in the woman's bag during one of their appointments.

The District Court was told yesterday that police, waiting outside Mr Beaton's office in 2005, intervened after hearing whipping noises coming from inside. Mr Beaton, an expert in treating patients with eating disorders, has pleaded not guilty to allegations he sexually assaulted and humiliated the patient in 2005 during a number of therapy sessions.

Giving evidence yesterday, the woman, now 24, said Mr Beaton told her bulimia was about control and she needed to learn discipline.

"I'd have to obey every order that he gives and present myself the way he says," the woman said.

She said she was often told to take her clothes off during her therapy sessions but when she refused to remove her underwear she was beaten with a wire coathanger. She said he had asked her about boyfriends, relationships and her sexual fantasies.

Prosecutor Amanda Forrester said police became involved after the woman made a complaint, the day after being forced to lie naked on a couch in Mr Beaton's Fremantle clinic, where he performed sex acts on her.

The trial continues today.