Media Release September 4, 2024

Sexual Offences

On August 21, 2024, an incident was reported to the Port Hope Police Service regarding a sexual assault with a youth victim. Due to the allegations, the Port Hope Police entered into an investigation that resulted in the arrest of 40-year-old Kelly-Anne Jennings. Kelly-Anne Jennings is employed as a Grade 8 teacher at St. Anthony’s Catholic School of the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. The victim in this matter was a current student at the time of the offence at St. Anthony’s Catholic School. On August 29, 2024, Kelly-Anne Jennings was arrested and released on an Undertaking with a first appearance date of October 09, 2024

Charges:

CC 271 Sexual Assault

CC 151 Sexual Interference

While conducting an extensive investigation, the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Port Hope Police Service began to identify additional victims that had previously attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School. After speaking to several witnesses and additional victims, Officers applied for and were granted several Criminal Code Search Warrants for supporting evidence in relation to the offences. These warrants were executed by the Port Hope Police Service with the assistance of the Peterborough Police Service’s Technological Crimes Unit.

On September 4, 2024, Kelly-Anne Jennings was re-arrested for sixteen (16) additional charges with three (3) additional youth victims having been identified as former students of Kelly-Anne Jennings. Kelly-Anne Jennings is being held for a bail hearing before the Cobourg – Ontario Court of Justice located at 860 William St., Cobourg.

Additional Charges:

3 x CC 171.1(1)(b) Distributes Sexually Explicit Material to a Person Under 16 years of age

7 x CC 172.1(1)(b) Luring a Person Under 16 years of age by means of Telecommunication

2 x CC 163.1(4.1) Access any Child Pornography

2 x CC 152 Invitation to Sexual Touching Under 16 years of age

2 x CC 163.1(2) Makes, Prints, Publishes or Possesses for the Purpose of Publication any Child Pornography

The Port Hope Police would like to thank all the current victims and witnesses for coming forward as well as the cooperation of their guardians. The Port Hope Police are also encouraging any further victims or witnesses to contact the Port Hope Police Service in person, via phone at 905-885-8123 or via email at phps@phps.on.ca.