Two men charged, one wanted after Whitby woman trafficked into sex trade

Two men are in custody and a third is on the lam after a woman from Whitby was forced into the the sex trade and repeatedly sexually assaulted.

The woman began chatting with a man over social media in May. The two set a meeting at the Scarborough Town Centre after which the man offered to escort the woman home.

She soon realized they were not heading to her house. When she voiced her concern about this the man produced a gun and threatened her if she did not comply with his demands.

The kidnapper held the woman hostage under threat from June 5 to 18, taking her to various locations outside London, Ontario. At each stop the woman was sexually assaulted.

He brought the woman to London on June 18. The stops and sexual assaults, often for money, continued through out the city and the kidnapper introduced the woman to two other men.

This pair also sexually assaulted the woman and trafficked her into the sex trade to be assaulted for money. This continued until the woman was able to escape on June 26 and call police.

Police launched an investigation and charged three men, one of whom they now have in custody.

Justin Steven Adams, 35, Matthew Parris-Cassidy, 32, both of London, and Jonathan Drummond, 37, of no fixed address, have all been charged with;

• Trafficking in persons
• Receiving benefit from trafficking a person over 18,
• Forcible confinement,
• Extortion,
• Material benefit from sexual services, and
• Procuring a person to provide sexual services.

Adams, the one in custody, has also been charged with, sexual assault and uttering threats to cause death. Drummond has additionally been charged with;

• Assault,
• Sexual assault,
• Two counts of uttering threats to cause death,
• Withhold/destroy travel or identity document
• Trafficking in person over 18,
• Advertising another person’s sexual services,
• Administer noxious thing,
• Possession of a weapon,
• Carrying a concealed weapon;
• Robbery, and
• Possession of a firearm while prohibited.

Finally Parris-Cassidy has also been charged with;

• Assault,
• Assault with a weapon;
• Sexual assault,
• Robbery, and
• Uttering threats to cause death.

Adams is set to appear in a London courtroom on August 18. Drummond was arrested on August 17 and appeared in court later that day. Parris-Cassidy has not been found and an arrest warrant has been issued for the above charges.

Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation or Parris-Cassidy whereabouts can call London Police at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).