“Opportunistic” piercer, 50, is alleged to have raped and sexually abused “vulnerable” clients and women, a court heard

A “cunning and manipulative” piercer raped and abused female clients and other women, a court heard today.

Paul Saunders is alleged to have used his job as a cover for his depraved activities, which included getting aroused through genital piercings, touching women inappropriately and photographing their private parts.

The 51-year-old established himself as a “man of status” after appearing in a television documentary, the jury was told, and used this to gain the trust of “vulnerable” young women, some of whom he allegedly met outside of work I attacked Scarz & Barz in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Opening the case, prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC said: “Mr Saunders was sexually aroused by his work and used his profession as a piercer to conceal the sordid reality.”

“He assaulted some of the women during genital piercings and acted as if the sexual touch was nothing more than what the piercing required.”

A court heard Saunders abused his job to inappropriately touch women and take photos of their private parts

“These procedures are invasive, sensitive and incredibly intimate, and he preyed on feelings of embarrassment and awkwardness and exploited the weaknesses of those who trusted him.”

“But he also assaulted women outside of work and it was common for him to contact women after a procedure. “He was opportunistic.”

Saunders – whose profile on his company’s website states that he has “been in the piercing business for almost 13 years with a wealth of experience” – is alleged to have placed the illegal photos of unsuspecting customers in a password-protected folder on his phone and saved them. for his own sexual satisfaction”.

It is also alleged he made “inappropriate comments about the size of women’s breasts” during procedures and asked customers to hug him “in a sexual manner” after the piercing.

Five-minute piercings often took up to 45 minutes, the jury was told, with staff finding the time required “unusual” and suspecting something more “sinister was at play”.

Outside the studio, Saunders, who goes by his nickname Poz, allegedly attacked a woman in her home.

The court heard that after missing her bus, she agreed to go to the defendant’s apartment, where she froze when he appeared topless and began to undress.

The woman was crying and hyperventilating [and] “I was scared” before she managed to escape the apartment without a bra or socks.

A friend who met her said she was “white as a ghost and shaking like a leaf,” Mr. Scamardella said.

Another victim was allegedly raped after she confided in Saunders that she was undergoing cancer treatment. Jurors were told they will also hear from a woman the defendant met when she was 17 who was attacked in her sleep.

Saunders allegedly created an account on FetLife – a social media site for fans of bondage, dominance and fetishism – in which he uploaded photos of vaginal piercings he had performed.

Saunders’ allegedly abused women at Scarz&Barz piercing studio in Ipswich, Suffolk

In his profile he described himself as someone who had “big hands to spank you and the strength to pin you down”, the jury was told.

Saunders, who claims the allegations were “fabricated”, denies three counts of rape and seven counts of sexual assault involving nine different women.

The crimes are said to have been committed between 2012 and 2020.

Mr Scamardella said the television documentary allowed the defendant to portray himself as a prominent figure in the community and that young women with mental health problems “trusted” him. But, he added, “there was something sinister lurking behind it.”

The process continues.