A 24-year-old Ottawa man who was arrested last week in connection to a sex assault in the city's west end now faces six sexual assault charges.

Ottawa police arrested Brent McGrath on Oct. 16 and charged him with sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement.

He now faces a total of 12 charges related to a series of seven incidents in which females reported being inappropriately touched on west-end pathways and roads between May 23 and Oct. 16. In all but one incident, the women were alone at the time of the alleged attacks.

"In May and June we had several incidents of inappropriate touching going on on pathways and roadways and then on June 24, we had a more serious incident in which a young girl was sexually assaulted," Staff-Sgt. John McGetrick told CTV Ottawa on Friday.

Police say the June attack was reported after a young girl was allegedly grabbed and sexually assaulted while walking home from school in Trend-Arlington Park.

Police say the majority of the incidents occurred on pathways in the west end, particularly in and around the Craig Henry area.

McGetrick told CTV Ottawa it wasn't until an incident in late September that McGrath was brought to police attention.

"We began monitoring this person's behaviour. He was arrested on Oct. 16 and the investigation linked him to seven incidents," said McGetrick.

"He's been charged with six counts of sexual assault, one count of aggravated assault, one count of sexual interference and one of exploitation. There's also a couple of attempt forcible confinement and some threatening charges."

Ottawa police say McGrath had no prior record and was not known to police until his arrest.

Investigators are now asking for any other women or girls who may have been assaulted in this neighbourhood to contact police.

"If there are any other people out there who have experienced a similar incident in the same location - we'd still like to hear from them," said McGetrick.

"We've had seven incidents that we've confirmed. There could very easily be more."

Police say McGrath remains in custody. A court date has not yet been set.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222 ext. 5944 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-TIPS.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Pierosara