Former Durham police recruit admits he sexually assaulted two underage girls - Toronto Star

Shortly before the assaults on the girls, who were 14 and 15 years old at the time, Knight 'implied and hinted that he was a 'cop,'' the court heard.

William Knight outside the University Avenue courthouse. Knight pleaded guilty sexually assaulting two young girls on Friday.

A former GTA police recruit sexually assaulted two underage girls after buying them alcohol at a downtown bar, then video recorded having sex with one of them — assaults that came to light when one victim confided in her school principal, a court heard Friday.

William Knight, 33, showed no emotion as he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and one count of making child pornography in an appearance before Ontario Superior Court Justice Apple Newton-Smith.

Knight was a 31-year-old recruit attending the Ontario Police College at the time of the March 2024 assaults, according to an agreed statement of facts read onto the record by Crown lawyer Mihael Cole.

Shortly before the assaults on the girls, who were 14 and 15-years-old at the time, Knight “implied and hinted that he was a ‘cop,’” court heard.

Knight was arrested days later at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, where police recruits receive mandatory training. Durham police previously confirmed that Knight had been a constable in training and was not yet a sworn officer. He later resigned.

Knight and his lawyer, Igor Vilkhov, declined to comment while leaving court. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for early next year.

The identity of the victims is covered by a standard publication ban.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Knight met the 14-year-old girl on a social media platform that connects strangers via webcam. Knight and the girl exchanged phone numbers, and spoke again on March 30, 2024, when the girl was with her 15-year-old friend.

Later that night, the girls decided to go “clubbing downtown,” wearing make-up and heels in order to look older, court heard. After taking the TTC part of the way, they texted Knight to come pick them up; they told Knight they were 18 and 17 years old, according to the agreed statement of facts.

“Although the girls made out to Mr. Knight that they were older than their actual ages… he did not take all reasonable steps to confirm their ages before engaging in sexual relations,” the agreed statement of facts states.

After being denied entry to bars because the girls did not have identification, the trio eventually gained entry to a bar, where Knight proceeded to buy the girls alcoholic drinks, court heard.

“While the girls were consuming alcohol Mr. Knight leaned over and engaged in mutual kissing on the mouth with both girls,” the agreed statement of facts said.

Knight later drove the girls home and during the ride one of the victims “vomited due to her level of intoxication,” the agreed statement of facts said.

The following day, Knight picked up the 14-year-old girl and proceeded to have unprotected sex with her in a Canadian Tire parking lot and filmed part of the encounter, making six videos.

Knight then drove the girl back to her friend’s house after her mother called asking for proof that she was still at the friend’s home, court heard. Later that day, he picked the girl up again and drove her to a loading bay where they had sex again, the document states.

Knight later sent the videos he made to the 14-year-old at her request.

A few days later, the girl reported the encounter to her school principal, who called police.

After he was arrested, Knight was held in jail for 55 days before being released on house arrest with an ankle monitor.

Knight was initially charged in connection to a third female victim, but the Crown could not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and the victim declined to participate in the proceedings, court heard.

Knight is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing Jan. 11, when it is expected a series of other related charges he was facing will be withdrawn.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis.