Ray Collingham, the man who was accused of and then vindicated of numerous sexual assault charges in 2009, is now going after the police force that arrested him and which he alleges botched the investigation against him.
Court documents were filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice by Ray Collingham against the Peterborough Lakefield Police Services Board.
Collingham is a former Smithers gymnastics coach, and was arrested in 2007, facing 15 charges of sexual assault against a former student of his in Ontario.
Collingham is claiming some of his rights were infringed following the arrest and he is seeking $2 million in general damages, as well as special damages of $2 million, and an additional $1 million in punitive damages.
Now a resident of Ajax, Collingham’s court filing outlines the background to his arrest and his perspective on how his rights were violated. He alleges that the investigating officer to the case did not take “minimally investigative steps” that would have ended the investigation right at the start.
The questioning of the victim in the case was also handled poorly, documents say, and it’s suggested that the person was intimidated into accusing Collingham.
In an e-mailed statement to The Interior News, Collingham said that he is seeking to have his name vindicated in the public eye.
He said despite the acquittal of his charges in 2009 he still experiences discrimination and ridicule.
