St. Catharines teacher charged with sexually assaulting a student

A St. Catharines Collegiate Secondary School teacher under suspicion of sexually assaulting a student has been charged after he fled the province.

In May, Niagara Police were called to the school after allegations that a teacher had become involved with a student. Police did not release the age of the victim.

After the case was assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit, the District School Board of Niagara suspended the teacher, waiting for the results of the investigation.

When the police believed there were “reasonable and probable grounds” of the allegations, they moved forward only to find out he’d skipped the province.

After issuing a Canada-wide arrest warrant, on October 18, they learned he was in Alberta and being detained by the Calgary Police, so they flew out and brought him back to face charges.

Lorne John Gocking, 53, is charged with four counts of sexual assault and four counts of sexual exploitation of a young person.

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Police say all the charges are related to one victim and that, so far, there’s no indication of others.

His bail hearing is scheduled to take place today (October 21) via video link to the courthouse in St. Catharines.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead investigator by dialling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009167.