WARNING: This article contains allegations of sexual assault. It may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.
Calgary police have charged a man with multiple sexual offences, including luring and child pornography. Officers allege he sexually assaulted and exploited several underage girls after meeting them online.
Investigators say the police received reports in January 2024 that a teenage girl had met an unknown man online, and after agreeing to meet in person, was sexually exploited and assaulted.
Police allege the teenage girl spent time in the man’s vehicle, where he offered her alcohol in exchange for sexual acts, according to a news release from the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
Police say the girl reported the incident to her mother, who then contacted the police.
Following an investigation by the CPS child abuse unit and the Southern Alberta Integrated Child Exploitation Team, five additional girls — ranging in age from 12 to 16 years old — were identified after alleging similar incidents.
Police claim the suspect was unknown to the girls but befriended them online through social media apps before arranging to meet.
The man would offer alcohol and marijuana in exchange for sexual acts, police allege.
Hammad Shaikh, 24, of Calgary has been charged with five counts of sexual assault, sexual assault while choking, five counts of sexual exploitation, four counts of sexual interference, four counts of luring, two counts of accessing child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography and making child pornography.
Shaikh is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 10.