London

Woodstock, Ont., mayor faces additional sexual assault charges

Mayor Trevor Birtch of Woodstock, Ont., has been charged with three new counts of sexual assault involving a different alleged victim, London police confirmed.

Trevor Birtch is scheduled to make an appearance in London court in relation to the new charges in July

Trevor Birtch was first elected as Woodstock's mayor in 2014 and stepped down on April 22, 2022 after serving two terms.
Woodstock, Ont., mayor Trevor Birtch has been charged with three new counts of sexual assaults involving a different alleged victim. (City of Woodstock)

Mayor Trevor Birtch of Woodstock, Ont., has been charged with three new counts of sexual assault involving a different alleged victim, London police said Tuesday.

The 47-year-old faces three previous charges related to another alleged victim.

The new charges stem from allegations that date back to January 2017 and as recent as April this year. Police said Birtch and the alleged victim are known to each other. 

The new charges are in addition to the three counts of assault that Birtch is already facing, including sexual assault with choking, related to alleged incidents between Feb. 14 and Dec. 13, 2021. All three previous alleged incidents involved the same woman. He is scheduled to make a court appearance in relation to those charges on May 2.

Birtch stepped down as mayor on April 22, but is still on paid leave while he awaits his court date.

Birtch was removed from his post as vice-chair on the Police Services Board the day after the first set of charges were laid in order to maintain integrity and inspire public confidence.

His next court date in relation to the most recent charges is July 4.

London police are asking for any other possible victims or survivors of sexual assault to contact them or other community partners for support.