Police have issued a community safety notice to advise Toronto residents of the release of a sex offender who spend the last 21 years in prison.

James Alfred Cooper, 79, was released after serving a sentence for 14 sex-related offences, police said in a statement on Monday.

Cooper was convicted of five counts of gross indecency, three counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape. He was also convicted of assault causing bodily harm, sexual intercourse with a female under age 14, buggery and sexual assault.

In the statement, police said they were notifying the public of his release because of his potential to reoffend against children.

Though Cooper was released, he is under a court order with the following conditions:

  • Report weekly to Toronto police
  • Do not attend any daycare centre, school ground, playground, arcade, public swimming area or public park
  • Have no direct or indirect contact with anyone under the age of 16
  • Do not enter into any intimate relationship, cohabitation, marriage or common-law relationship with a person who is the parent or guardian of children under the age of 16 until that person has been identified to police.

Cooper will be living in Toronto.