A Scarborough man has been charged with committing sexual offences against a minor after police say a 14-year-old girl in Durham Region was “being groomed for human trafficking.”
Police are concerned there may be more victims.
Durham Regional Police Service’s Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) began an investigation February 7 after it was learned the girl had been contacted, unsolicited, by a man named ‘Ace’ on Snapchat who claimed he was 18. The victim informed him that she was 14 but the man continued to engage with her. During this time the accused and victim met up on several occasions.
On Wednesday a search warrant was executed at the man’s home on Brimley Road in Scarborough. With the assistance of uniformed members, HTU investigators arrested the man without incident.
Hammad Abowath, 21, is charged with sexual interference with a person under 16 and invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age.
He was held for a bail hearing.
Anyone who has been victimized by the …