Ringette victim sues coach

Kelsea Joy Hepburn

The one-time assistant ringette coach convicted of sexually interfering with one of her players is being sued by her victim’s family for $750,000.

The ringette associations of Calgary and Alberta, along with coaches Darren Gerlitz and Ian Currie are also named in the lawsuit.

Kelsea Hepburn was sentenced last September to 18 months in jail for sexual misconduct directed at the-then 13-year-old girl on the ringette team she helped coach.

The lawsuit’s statement of claim contends the teen girl suffers from “severe pyschiatric and psychological injuries,” from suicidal thoughts and has problems with relationships.

She “suffers from fear and distrust of coaching professionals and people in authority” and has withdrawn from social activities and sports, it states.

The plaintiffs accuse Hepburn of “obtaining the minor’s trust under the guise of coaching in order to subject her to ongoing and repeated sexual assaults and harassment.”  (more...)

Ringette victim sues coach