Investigators are concerned about the possibility of more alleged victims after a 21-year-old Toronto man was charged with sex offences involving a minor.
Durham Regional Police say an investigation was launched Feb. 7 after it was learned that a 14-year-old was allegedly being groomed for human trafficking.
Police claim the victim was contacted, unsolicited, by a man on Snapchat who claimed to be 18 years old and went by the name “Ace.”
According to police, the girl informed him that she was 14 but the man continued to engage with her. During this time, police said the man and the girl met up on several occasions.
On Wednesday, a search warrant was executed at a suspect’s residence on Brimley Rd. in Scarborough and a man was arrested without incident.
Hammad Abowath is charged with sexual interference with a person under 16 years of age and invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age.
Anyone with information about this or similar incidents is urged to call police at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5600, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca.