Police warning of ‘high-risk’ offender living in Ottawa with history of ‘violent stranger sexual assaults’

Police say a high-risk offender with a history of violent stranger sexual assaults will be living in Ottawa. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

Police are warning the public of a “high-risk” public offender serving the remainder of his life sentence on day parole and now living in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police Service says Christopher Roulston, 46, is a designated dangerous offender currently serving an indeterminate life sentence for three counts of sexual assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

The offences occurred in Toronto in 2002, police say.

“The OPS is notifying the public because the High-Risk Offender Management Unit believes Roulston poses a significant risk to public safety, particularly to women, given his history of violent stranger sexual assaults and the high risk that he will re-offend or breach his conditions,” police said in a news release Tuesday.

Police say Roulston will reside in Ottawa on day parole in a community-based facility under structured supervision monitored by the Correctional Service of Canada and the High-Risk Offender Management Unit.

Roulston is subject to a curfew and several conditions, including:

• No direct or indirect contact with the victims of the offences.
• No association or communication with anyone he knows, or has reason to believe is involved in criminal activity.
• Not to consume, buy, or possess alcohol.
• Not to go into businesses where alcohol sales or consumption are the main source of income.
• Not to consume, buy, or possess drugs, except prescribed medication taken as directed or over-the-counter medication taken as recommended.
• Immediately report all relationships and friendships with women and any changes to the status of the relationships/friendships.

Anyone who is aware of potential breaches to his condition is asked to not approach him and contact the Ottawa police’s High-Risk Offender Unit 613-236-1222, ext. 4395, [e-mail].

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