Stable owner convicted of sexually assaulting teen

A Pelham stable owner was convicted of sexual assault and two counts of common assault in a Welland courtroom Wednesday.

Judge Tory Colvin also dismissed 10 additional charges against James Corbett, 61, though he imposed a peace bond that includes instructions to not have any contact with the victim on a number of them.

Most of the offences took place at Cedar Ridge Stables, a four-hectare facility with two barns and indoor and outdoor training areas in Pelham, where Corbett is both the owner and lead trainer.

Colvin convicted Corbett of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman who started taking riding lessons there in 1994 and became part of the stable’s show riding team.

She testified that she was taking care of her horse in the barn on Nov. 18, 2015, when Corbett approached her and put his arms around her waist. He then put his hands inside her shirt on her back. She pulled away and went back to tending to her horse.

A little while later, Corbett called her behind the barn. There he took hold of her, slid his hands down to her buttocks and tried to kiss her on the mouth.

The young woman testified she was too upset to stay at the stable and left for home. There she told her father what happened. He called police.

Corbett, who was represented by lawyer George Walker, admitted to hugging the young woman during his testimony. He also said he gave her “a peck on the cheek.”

Colvin said he found the young woman’s testimony “entirely believable.”

Colvin explained that in the Criminal Code of Canada, sexual assault can be any behaviour of a sexual nature that makes someone feel uncomfortable, frightened, intimidated or threatened. He said it includes behaviour to which someone has not consented and where another person uses physical or emotional force.

In the charges he dismissed, Colvin found enough inconsistencies in testimony to rule that the Crown hadn’t proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

After police initially charged Corbett in November 2015, victims began to come forward with allegations that Corbett had groped them at the stables.

Some of the teens described Corbett as the “the huggy type.” Another called him a “hands-on coach.”

A sentencing hearing for Corbett on his three convictions is scheduled for Nov. 17.