Building super charged with child sex assault

Man worked for three North York residences over the past 16 years

Police are warning residents of three North York buildings after a Toronto man was arrested for the second time this month for allegedly targeting and sexually assaulting children for years while working as a building superintendent.

“We’re investigating a guy that’s been charged with four different sexual assault-related charges stemming from his job,” said Const. David Hopkinson. “It would be irresponsible if we didn’t mention that he worked at other places where there might be other victims.”

On Aug. 13, a 42-year-old man who worked at a building at 12 Rockford Rd. was arrested by officers with the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC), a part of the force’s Sex Crimes unit that focuses on assault involving children.

The man had allegedly spent the past four years sexually assaulting a young girl on multiple occasions, according to a police news release.

He was released on bail on Aug. 16, but was arrested again by the CYAC just six days later in connection to another sexual assault case in the same building, this time related to incidents from 2013 and 2016.

Police said the man had befriended an 11-year-old boy in 2013. The man and the child spent a significant amount of time together over three years, until the child turned 14. Police say the man sexually assaulted the boy multiple times during that period.

Following his second arrest on Aug. 21, Barry Strangways, of T charges in total: one charge each of sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, and indecent exposure to a person under 16 years of age related to each case.

Police said Strangways has worked as a building superintendent for three different buildings over the past 16 years. He worked at 4750 Jane St. from 2003 to 2008, 2911 Bayview Ave. from 2008 to 2012 and 12 Rockford Rd. from 2012 to the present, police said.

Strangways appeared in court Monday morning to face his four newest charges.