An Abbotsford man has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, forcible confinement and aggravated assault for an alleged attack against his former girlfriend.
The man, who cannot be named due to a publication ban to protect the identity of the victim, was arrested on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 31 and charged the following day.
Const. Ian MacDonald said Abbotsford Police received a call at about 4 a.m. on Jan. 31 that a woman in her 20s was in a parking lot in the 3100 block of Mt. Lehman Road.
When police arrived, they found that the woman was suffering from injuries to her face and body. She was taken to hospital and was confirmed to have at least one fracture.
MacDonald said police discovered that the woman had been at a social gathering in which her ex-boyfriend, in his 20s, was also in attendance.
The alleged assault took place when the two were alone. The man would not let the woman leave and he later dropped her off at the parking lot, MacDonald said.
He would not elaborate on the specifics of the attack, but said that charges of aggravated assault and aggravated sex assault indicate it was a violent act.
MacDonald said these types of charges are not common and can indicate that either a weapon was used and/or the injuries sustained were "potentially life-altering."
He said he could not comment on the pair's previous history, but they were not involved in a relationship at the time of the assault.
He commended the woman for her strength following the attack.
"I think she was absolutely courageous and brave," MacDonald said.