Man with Hamilton connection charged in historical sexual assaults

A 65-year-old British Columbia man has been charged by Peterborough police in connection with a historical sexual assault.

In August 2021, Peterborough police started an investigation after they received information from a male victim about sexual assaults dating back to the 1980s.

As a result of the investigation, a Canada Wide Warrant was issued on Jan. 7.

On Jan. 17, RCMP in British Columbia arrested the accused on the strength of the warrant and Peterborough police Major Crime detectives brought the accused back to Ontario.

65-year-old Gary Bratty of British Columbia was charged with:

Sexual Assault

Indecent Assault on a Male

Invitation to sexual touching

Sexual Interference

The accused was held in custody and will appear in court for a bail hearing today, Jan. 20

The name of the accused is being released as Peterborough police have reason to believe there are further victims who have yet to come forward.

Bratty was a professional weightlifter and trained youths throughout the 80s and 90s, say police.

He was affiliated with Big Brothers of Hamilton in the early 80s and trained numerous youths in weightlifting during this time throughout the City of Hamilton.

Bratty worked in provincial corrections from 1980 to 1989 in the Toronto, Peterborough, and Ottawa facilities.

Police say in 1990 Bratty moved to British Columbia where he resided in the Vancouver and Burnaby areas and coached weightlifting at a university in the lower mainland of BC.

The Peterborough police are requesting further victims to reach out to the police service where they currently live or Detective Constable L. White of the Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 x 285.