LONDON - A former Canadian Forces medic charged 20 times by the military for sexual assault and breach of trust, is now facing almost as many new charges.

Seventeen more charges were laid against ex-petty officer 2nd class James Wilks after more women alleged they were improperly fondled in routine physical exams.

Wilks resigned his post in April 2011 after a 25-year career spent partly based London.

The military's investigative service has now charged Wilks for incidents alleged to have occurred while medical exams were performed at a naval reserve unit in Thunder Bay and at the Forces recruiting centre in London between 2002 and 2009.

The latest charges include eight counts of sexual assault and nine of breach of trust.

The new complainants came forward after military police appealed for anyone with information to step forward.

In all, Wilks has been charged with 14 counts of sexual assault and 23 of breach of trust since September 2010.

"The Canadian Forces takes all allegations of sexual assault seriously and will investigate all allegations to determine the facts, analyze the evidence and, if warranted, lay the appropriate charges," Lt.-Col. Brian Frei, commanding officer of the investigative service, said in a release.

Wilks was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and four counts of breach of trust in a court martial last December

Charges filed last January and the newest allegations have not been proven in a military court.