The arrest of a retired teacher in Hamilton has encouraged six others to come forward, 40 years after they say he sexually assaulted them.

John Leek of Whitby, who had worked as a teacher, truancy counsellor, vice principal and principal, was charged on Oct. 6, with indecent assault on a male and gross indecency.

He is now facing 16 new charges, in addition to two laid earlier this month.

The victim said he'd been sexually assaulted in Hamilton between June 1976 and December 1977. At the time the charges were laid, police said they feared there might be other victims.

Since the Oct. 6 arrest, six more victims have reported incidents, Hamilton police said Friday. The claims were investigated, and police charged Leek with an additional count of sexual assault, one count of sexual interference, seven counts of indecent assault on a male and seven counts of gross indecency.

Leek, 69, worked for the Hamilton, Peel, and Durham District School Boards, as well as the Hamilton District Christian High School during his career.

He had an active role in several children's choirs throughout Ontario, and was once employed with the Anglican Church as an organist. He's also volunteered with several agencies where his position put him in contact with children.

Hamilton police said that they still believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Tammi Ewart of the sexual assault unit at 905-540-6477, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).