Convicted sex offender behind Docklands massage business avoids jail, again

A registered sex offender living in Docklands has narrowly avoided jail time after being convicted of five new offences in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week – sparking renewed concern over Victoria’s laws allowing sex offenders to continue working in the adult industry.

Albino Godwill D’Souza, 48, who operates under the business name Adonis Massage Studio from his Watergate apartment on Waterview Walk, pleaded guilty on June 23 to multiple breaches of his sex offender reporting obligations. He was convicted and sentenced to 80 hours of supervised community work and given a final warning by the presiding magistrate.

D’Souza, who previously served jail time in Western Australia for possessing and distributing child exploitation material, was placed on the sex offender register in 2023 for a period of 15 years. Under the strict terms of the register, he is legally required to notify Victoria Police of any changes to his phone number, email address, website or social media accounts within seven days. The court heard he failed to report multiple online platforms connected to his erotic massage business.

Despite already being convicted in 2024 for similar offences and failing to complete a 55-hour community work order in lieu of fines, D’Souza once again avoided a custodial sentence. The court instead reimposed the previous work order and added an additional 80 hours, warning that any future breach would almost certainly lead to imprisonment.

“I’m going to give him a chance, but the last chance,” the magistrate said during sentencing. “He’ll quickly realise that if he keeps up his attitude, he’ll end up in jail.”

In court, D’Souza appeared in person wearing white sneakers and an aqua blue pullover jacket. He appeared anxious, repeatedly wringing his hands and leaning forward as the magistrate read out the facts of the case.

Albino Godwill D’Souza.

Police prosecutors had sought a jail sentence, highlighting D’Souza’s repeated non-compliance and prior criminal history. They also noted that the crimes occurred at his Docklands residence, where his massage business remains active and publicly advertised across multiple escort service platforms.

Concerns are now growing over the apparent legal grey area that allows individuals listed on the sex offender register to continue operating in Victoria’s sex industry – with no explicit ban in place under current legislation.

Sex worker advocate Matthew Roberts, who attended the hearing, described the loophole as “deeply troubling”.

“I was shocked when I learned that registered sex offenders are allowed to work in the sex industry in Victoria,” Mr Roberts told Docklands News. “As an advocate for sex workers, I’m very concerned that as the law currently applies, registered sex offenders are not banned from working in the sex industry. This appears to be a loophole in the law that needs to be rectified to address public safety.”

The case also raises concerns for the Docklands community given the presence of a known sex offender operating a commercial sex service in a residential tower.

Court records confirm that Adonis Massage Studio, the name of D’Souza’s business, was referenced in proceedings and is connected to multiple websites promoting male-to-male erotic massage services. D’Souza is identifiable by name and photograph across many of these platforms, which remain live.

A review of the Adonis Massage Studio website, which features explicit service listings and dozens of recent posts, shows no reference to D’Souza’s status as a convicted sex offender despite his legal obligations to report all such online content to police.

D’Souza has claimed social isolation and medical issues, including a recent knee surgery, as reasons for failing to complete previous court orders. However, the magistrate noted that no hours of community service had been completed since 2024 and warned that failure to comply this time would lead to incarceration.

The matter raises broader questions about Victoria’s approach to regulating the adult industry and protecting public safety, particularly where repeat sex offenders are concerned.

While D’Souza remains legally entitled to operate his massage business, pressure is mounting on the state government to consider additional safeguards to prevent high-risk individuals from exploiting gaps in the system.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said it was inappropriate to comment on individual incidents that have come before the courts, but that a statutory review of the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 must commence within three to five years of legislative commencement (between 2025-2027).

“Victoria Police have strict oversight of offenders living in Victoria and complete risk assessment for all offenders added to the Sex Offenders Register,” the spokesperson said.

“Offenders on the register must report to police details of any job they have including the nature of the employment, the name of their employer, and the location where they work. These offenders are closely monitored by police to ensure they comply with their reporting obligations.”•