Three men are facing several charges after a woman was held against her will and forced to perform sex acts for money in and around London by a man she met online.
The Whitby woman agreed to meet a man she had been chatting with on social media at a shopping centre in Scarborough in May. The man offered to escort the woman home after the meeting, which she agreed to, but soon realized he was driving her in the wrong direction. The man then threatened the woman with a gun to get her to comply with his demands, London police said.
Over a two week period starting on June 5, the woman was forced to attend various locations outside of London where she was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions. On June 18, she was forced to perform sexual acts for money in various locations in London. The woman was then introduced to two other men who allegedly sexually assaulted her and then forced her to perform sexual acts for money.
The woman managed to escape from the men and call police on June 26.
Justin Steven Adams, 35, Matthew Parris-Cassidy, 32, both of London, and Jonathan Drummond, 37, of no fixed address, are now charged jointly charged with trafficking a person by exercising control, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats to cause death, extortion, financially benefitting from trafficking a person over 18, material benefit from sexual services, and procuring a person to provide sexual services.
Drummond is additionally charged with withholding or destroying travel or identity documents, advertising another person’s sexual services, administering a noxious substance, possessing and carrying a concealed weapon, robbery, and possessing a weapon while prohibited.
Parris-Cassidy is also charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and robbery.
Adams has been arrested and remains in police custody. He has a court date scheduled for August 8.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Parris-Cassidy and Drummond.
Investigators suspect there may be other victims in the case. They are asking anyone who suspects someone has fallen victim to human trafficking or who has information to the whereabouts of Parris-Cassidy and Drummond to call them at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
