A man police identified as a massage therapist at a Newmarket spa was charged with sexual assault on the same day the victim reported the incident to police.
Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit – Sexual Assault Section on Feb. 14 responded to a report of a sexual assault that had occurred at a spa on Leslie Street, north of Davis Drive.
The victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted during a massage at the Leslie Med Spa, 17817 Leslie St., Unit 1.
Later that same day, York police arrested and charged Mohsen Mozaffari Afshar, 42, of Richmond Hill. Afshar is not a registered massage therapist with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on March 18.
A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. York 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.
Investigators want to ensure that there are no further victims, and anyone with information is asked to come forward.
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
Editor's note: The original article was edited on Feb. 20 to clarify that the use of the title massage therapist is regulated under the Massage Therapy Act, and is reserved for individuals registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.
