Former Woodstock mayor convicted of sexual assault to be sentenced in new year

The sentencing for former Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch in relation to sexual assault convictions takes place next year. CTV London's Nick Paparella reports.

The embattled former mayor of Woodstock, Ont. Trevor Birtch has had his fair share of legal woes over the past five years.

He had two sexual assault trials at London’s courthouse involving two separate women he had relationships with. One case ended with a mistrial being declared by the judge in 2024 and the other ending with a conviction in January.

A month later in February he pled guilty to impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle in Zorra Township near Woodstock.

After that his lawyer Jim Battin was disbarred, so Birtch was granted time to obtain new representation and eventually hiring Jordan Gold out of Toronto.

During a brief court appearance via Zoom on Tuesday, Gold decided not to proceed with a mistrial application, instead setting a date for a sentencing hearing on the two sexual assault convictions from the second trial.

Justice Spencer Nicholson, who referred to Birtch as “an obvious liar” at the end of the trial, is expected to hear the sentencing submissions on Jan. 29, 2026.