Second alleged survivor of assault at Barrie fast-food eatery shares her story
Warning: Some readers may find details in this story to be distressing or triggering.
A 47-year-old Barrie, Ont. fast-food restaurant operator faces charges following allegations of sexual assault, and since his arrest, police say more victims have come forward.
'Kate,' a girl whose identity is protected by court order, sat down with CTV News to share her story of alleged abuse that she says went on for months at the hands of her boss.
"It's disgusting," says Kate's mom. "It makes me angry, and frustrated, and sad."
The man accused operated two Subway shops, one at Minet's Point and another near Yonge Street and Big Bay Point Road in the city's south end.
In a statement, Subway restaurant wrote, "We are committed to providing a safe environment for all employees and guests, and any breach of these standards is taken very seriously.
Subway Restaurants will support the police in their investigation and will take necessary action, which may include terminating the franchise agreement."
KATE'S STORY
Kate says her boss took a special interest in her dating life and over-shared his own.
"Very sexual things about any girl he's been with," she says. "He'd tell me the stories, and he'd be very graphic about it."
Kate says he eventually began touching her when they were alone in the store. "He called it, like a massage. And he'd just massage my shoulders."
She says he used her workouts to justify the massages. "He would say, I'm too tight in this area, but in my head, it didn't make sense because the areas he was touching weren't areas that you work out at the gym."
Kate says she realized things had crossed a line when the massages went further. "It was under the clothes. And when he made me do things to him. It wasn't a massage because I was doing it to him too."
She admits she kept the alleged abuse a secret, frightened by what her boss regularly told the staff around the eatery.
"He would just tell me stories about how him and his friends can kill people or make people disappear," she says.
Then she says he presented her with a piece of paper. "He wrote something about consent on it and then made me sign, and he told me, he's like, 'I can't get in trouble for this now.'"
While listening to her daughter, Kate's mother held back sobs. "The idea that somebody hurts your child, in any way, but especially this way..." she says.
None of the allegations have been tested or proven in court.
MORE VICTIMS POSSIBLE
Police stated in a release they "strongly believe that there may be additional victims who may have worked at two franchises of a fast-food restaurant that have been operated by the accused over the past 13 years."
Kate hopes to encourage survivors of sexual assault to share their stories. "No matter what the person's telling you," she says. "But I know what it's like though, to not say anything because I know what it's like to be manipulated."
Stephen Lemmond, 47, faces charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation in connection with the alleged incidents involving Kate and another complainant. An assault charge has been laid in connection with a third complainant.
The accused has been released from police custody with a surety.
While out on bail, Lemmond cannot have contact with a handful of people, he cannot possess a weapon, he cannot attend a Subway location in Barrie, and he cannot be in the company of a female under the age of 18 unless a surety is present.
Police say the allegations are both recent and historical, adding Lemmond has operated businesses in the city's south end since 2008.
His next court appearance is set for July 19.
Police ask anyone with information or who may be a victim to contact Det. Const. Melanie Beard at 705-725-7025 x 2582 or by email.
---
If you or someone you know may be a victim of sexual assault, find help here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.