TORONTO, Ont. – A 15-year-old boy has been denied bail, only hours after Toronto police arrested him in connection to a series of sex assaults in the Bloor and Christie streets neighbourhood.

Police have charged him with 16 counts of sexual assault and two counts of criminal harassment. He cannot be identified under the Criminal Justice Act because of his age.

Police said they’ve received reports of 14 cases of sexual assaults on women in the area since August.

“In each one of these attacks, the accused approached the women from behind, sexually assaulted them and fled the scene,” Staff Insp. Mary Lee Metcalfe said.

The most recent assault happened on Saturday, and the suspect was arrested right away.

“A woman was walking in the Roxton Road and Bloor Street west area,” Staff Insp. Metcalfe said. “The accused approached the woman from behind, sexually assaulted her and was arrested by police at the scene.”

Toronto police chief Bill Blair said there are many people in the community who have been left traumatized by these assaults.

He also said the investigation was successfully concluded due in part to the actions of some courageous women.

“We have women in our organization who put themselves in harm’s way, who went out into that community and put themselves at risk,” Chief Blair said.

The suspect made a court appearance for a bail hearing at the Youth Court on Jarvis St. later on Monday. The boy’s aunt and uncle were also in court, testifying on behalf of him and maintaining his innocence.

They told the justice of the peace that they were prepared to come forward as sureties and promised to supervise the boy at all times, but the court decided he was too much of a risk to the public to let him out on bail.

“He’s a very innocent kid. He [has] a very good heart. He’s not a person who [attacks] people or who hurts people,” his uncle told CityNews Channel after the hearing.  

A publication ban is in effect for most of the evidence in the case.