Oceanside RCMP arrested 34-year-old Joel Perry of Qualicum Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Perry is charged with one count of sexual assault in relation to a disturbing attack against a senior near the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre on Aug. 19. (Submitted/RCMP)

By Ian Holmes

Disturbing crime

Man arrested for disturbing sex assault against Qualicum Beach senior

Sep 13, 2019 | 7:21 AM

PARKSVILLE — A man who avoided jail time for harassing numerous women over the phone is now accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman in Qualicum Beach.

Joel Perry, 34, was arrested by Oceanside RCMP without incident on Sept. 10 near the Parksville Industrial Park, according to Cpl. Jesse Foreman.

Perry is charged with sexual assault and remains in custody awaiting a court appearance on Sept. 17.

He is accused of masturbating near the victim on a trail by the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre on Aug. 19. Perry then allegedly grabbed the woman’s breasts before running away.

Oceanside RCMP continue investigating a similar incident 45 minutes later, also involving a man masturbating in the presence of a woman in the Springwood Park area of Parksville.

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Perry is not currently charged for the Parksville incident. At the time, Oceanside police said they believe the same person was involved in both incidents based on a similar suspect description.

This is not the first time Perry has found himself before the courts on sex-related charges.

The Qualicum Beach man previously pleaded guilty to 32 charges of making harassing and sexually explicit phone calls to women primarily in the Lower Mainland.

A Surrey judge in March of this year handed Perry an 18-month conditional sentence and the maximum three-year probationary term for his crimes, which garnered significant attention.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes