Human trafficking victim worked in Thunder Bay hotels: police

An 18-year-old girl who was being trafficked as a prostitute in hotels in Thunder Bay, Mississauga, Burlington and London, has been rescued, police report.

The London Police Service found the 18-year-old victim in a city hotel on Saturday morning after they received a call about a woman being assaulted there.

Police learned the 18-year-old was being trafficked as a prostitute, after she had responded to online interaction with a man who provided her with the opportunity to make money in the sex trade. As time progressed, the man permitted her to keep less and less of her money until the he kept 100 per cent of her earnings, a London police news release stated.

On Saturday, the man reportedly assaulted the victim and stole her money before leaving the hotel room. She reported the assault to staff from the hotel, which prompted the call to police.

A 28-year-old Mississauga man was arrested later and charged with:

• Trafficking people
• Receiving financial benefit from trafficking people
• Procuring illicit sexual intercourse
• Procuring a person to be a prostitute
• Exercising control of a person for the purpose of prostitution
• Assault
• Theft under $5,000

London police told CBC News they do not believe the the incident stems from a larger human trafficking ring, and is an isolated case.

The woman involved in the case has been given assistance to return to her home city. Police are not disclosing where she is originally from.