Hamilton Police have arrested a 51-year-old man after an investigation into reports of sexual assault.

In early February of 2022, Hamilton Police entered into an investigation after a victim came forward to report incidents of sexual assault between the years of 2012 and 2016.

On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, Duane Thorne of Smithville was arrested and charged with the following offences:

·         Sexual Assault

·         Sexual Interference

Duane Thorne will appear in court on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

At the time of the assault Thorne was a leader at Victory International Church, currently he serves as the Chairman of the Board.

Hamilton Police believe that there may be more victims and encourage anyone with information to come forward.

If you have any information that you believe could assist investigators into this crime, you are asked to contact Detective Constable Shannon McLean at 905-546-4614.

Hamilton Police want all survivors of sexual violence to know that we believe them and we will respect their choice when and how they report an incident.

Hamilton Police would like to encourage anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of sexual violence, to come forward and report the incident to police. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences, and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can report the incident by contacting the Sexual Assault Unit non-emergency line at 905-540-5553, or by filing a report online www.hamiltonpolice.on.ca.

Hamilton Police understand that while sexual assaults often cause long-lasting trauma, survivors may have difficulty speaking about the incidents with friends, family members, or police officers. If someone is not ready to report; however, is seeking support please contact Hamilton Police Victim Services at 905-546-4904.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamiIton.com.

There is no guaranteed way to prevent sexual assault. Sharing the details of these assaults is intended to provide the community information, and people are encouraged to trust their instincts. For confidential support, please call the Sexual Assault Centre’s 24-hour support line at 905-525-4162 or connect at www.sacha.ca, or the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at www.hhsc.ca/sadv.