London man charged with sexually abusing baby daughter: police

A London man faces a range of sexual abuse charges which police say involved his baby daughter, as well as child pornography charges, after interacting with police on an online chat site.

Members of the Toronto Police Service communicated with the individual using the chat site with between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2, 2019. During their investigation, police say officers learned about a historical sexual assault involving the man’s then-six-month-old daughter.

They contacted London Police, who raided a home in the south end of the city early Wednesday and seized a computer tablet and eight grams of methamphetamine. Police say the tablet had multiple images of suspected child pornography.

The 38-year-old man, who isn’t being identified to protect the victim, has been charged with two counts of unlawfully possessing child pornography, unlawfully accessing child pornography, sexual interference with person under 16, sexual exploitation of a young person, sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age, possession to publish child pornography, distributing child pornography, possession of a schedule I substance; and failure to comply with recognizance.

London Police say the infant victim no longer resides with the suspect and the Children’s Aid Society has been notified.

“This investigation illustrates the link that exists between the consumption of child pornography and child sexual abuse,” said Det. Sgt. Glenn Hadley of the Investigative Support Section of the London Police Service. “The combined work of the two police services highlights the value of the Provincial Strategy in combating child pornography.”

The accused is expected to appear in court on Feb. 12, 2019.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call the London Police Service at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent in on-line anonymously to http://www.londoncrimestoppers.com.