An investigation into the sex trafficking of young woman has led to charges against three people.
The joint investigation by London police, OPP, Waterloo Regional police, Guelph police, and Sudbury police began in 2020. According to police, the female victim was forced into the sex trade for a period of about 18 months by a man she met when she was 16.
"The accused began to traffic the victim in the sex trade in London and elsewhere in Ontario after she had turned 18 years old," police said. "During the course of this investigation, three other victims were located and charges have been laid in relation to historical incidents reported to police."
Jordan Hawke, 29 of no fixed address faces the following charges: Sexual interference with a person under 16 Aggravated assault Sexual assault Exercising control over the movement of a person under 18 Financial/ material benefit from trafficking a person under 18 Withholding a travel or identity document/ trafficking a person under 18 Obtaining sexual services for consideration from a person under 18 Material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18 Procuring/ recruiting a person under 18 to provide sexual services Three counts of trafficking in person by recruiting/ exercising control Three counts of financial/ material benefit from trafficking a person over 18 Three counts of obtaining sexual services Three counts of material benefit from sexual services Three counts of procuring/ recruiting a person to provide sexual services Four counts of advertising to provide sexual services Causing unnecessary injury to an animal Publishing an intimate image without consent Possession of property obtained by crime Uttering threats to cause death Two counts of assault.
Shelley Hawke, 53, of Cambridge and 20-year-old Chantal Willocks of Cambridge are both charged with trafficking in persons by exercising control, financial/material benefit from trafficking a person over 18, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Police believe that there are other victims and are encouraging them to come forward.
Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call the London Police Service at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent in online anonymously to London Elgin Middlesex Crime Stoppers.
