A Gymnastics Ontario coach from Toronto is facing charges for sexual offences against young girls in Ottawa and Kingston.
Ottawa Police say Benjamin Cooper, a 27-year-old man, was employed by Gymnastics Ontario from 2014 to 2021, according to a news release issued on Wednesday.
Seven girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by him between 2014 and 2022, police say. The victims range from 14 to 17 years old.
“Sexual offences took place in the course of his coaching duties and after hours, and incidents continued into 2022,” police said.
He was arrested Wednesday morning by Ottawa Police with assistance from Toronto Police.
The charges he is facing include six counts of sexual assault, three counts of unlawful possession of child pornography, five counts of sexual exploitation, and one count of harassment by repeated communication with person, among others.
Police are urging other potential victims to come forward and are asking them to contact their local police service for more information.
