NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Sexual Assault Section have charged a 64-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman from the Town of Grimsby in connection with historical sexual offences committed against children.
The investigation began June 10, 2022, when a female victim came forward and reported she had been sexually assaulted by two suspects, between 1987 and 1990, when she was between the age of 13 and 17. The victim attended the same church as the suspects.
On June 28, 2022, a second female victim came forward and reported that she had also been sexually assaulted by the same male suspect between 1992 and 1993, when she was between the age of 13 and 14. The victim was a member of the same church the suspect attended.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Raymond Swash and Sandra Swash were arrested and have been charged.
Both accused were members of the Banfield Memorial Church in North York. Raymond Swash held a position as a youth pastor and a youth leader at the church during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Investigators believe the two accused may have been involved with several church groups in York Region, Hamilton and Niagara Region and possibly other jurisdictions around Ontario.
Images of the two accused are being released and any additional victims or witnesses, or anyone with information that may assist in the investigation, are urged to come forward.
CHARGED:
- Raymond Swash, 64, of Grimsby
CHARGES:
- Gross Indecency
- Sexual Intercourse With Person Under 14
- Sexual Intercourse With Person Between 14 to 16
- Sexual Assault x4
- Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person x2
- Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person Between 14 to 17
- Indecent Act/Expose Genitals to Person Under 14
- Invite/Counsel of Sexual Exploitation
CHARGED:
- Sandra Swash, 61, of Grimsby
CHARGES:
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person
A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. York Regional Police would like to encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault 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 the survivor of sexual assault, you can report the incident online if:
- You are not in immediate danger
- The person who assaulted you is not present
- There is no evidence present that may be collected by police (blood, semen, saliva, etc.). Evidence can be collected for up to 12 days after the sexual assault has occurred
- You have access to a private email address, to which the suspect does not
If someone is not ready to report, however is seeking support, please contact York Region Victim Services victimservices-york.org or the Women’s Support Network womenssupportnetwork.ca. Additional resources and information can be found on our website http://www.yrp.ca/en/services/resources/sexualassaultsurvivorsguide.pdf.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Sexual Assault Section at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
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