Overview

• Niagara Regional Police say a child under five was assaulted inside a Welland home after someone defeated the front-door lock overnight between late Saturday and Sunday morning.
• Officers found signs of forced entry and serious injuries, and paramedics transferred the child to an out-of-region specialist hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
• Investigators reviewed neighbourhood surveillance, identified a suspect, and arrested 25-year-old Daniel Senecal of Welland.
• Senecal is charged with aggravated sexual assault on a person under 16, assault, assault by choking, break and enter, and sexual interference, and he remains in custody following a scheduled Monday court appearance.
• Neighbours and a local mother allege the accused previously offended against a child and was released early this year, and some residents say he was known to the family, claims not confirmed by police who described the incident as a stranger attack.