Hamilton Police looking to catch predator targeting sex workers

Hamilton Police are looking for a man believed responsible for eight attacks on sex trade workers. They started in July 2010, with the latest incident taking place this Monday.

In each case, police say the women were approached by a man, and agreed on a price for specific services. They were then driven to a secluded location and sexually assaulted.

Eight sexual assaults sounds shocking, but the interim director of women’s services at Good Shepherd, Lorraine Chapman says many women are raped and beaten while working in the sex trade.

“They’re not being paid to be raped and be beaten. And we need to find ways to protect those women.”

In Hamilton, the problem extends well beyond these eight incidents. “There are hundreds of cases every year.”

Most go unreported. Chapman says some women are scared to go to police for fear they won’t be taken seriously. “Unfortunately have been taught to believe by authorities and people in their families that they deserve what they get. And that’s wrong.”

There are organizations that try to help limit the dangers. The Elizabeth Fry Society tries to support sex trade workers in developing a bad trick list which warns women about the dangers of particular males, and what vehicles they’re driving.

In Monday’s assault police are looking for a white man in his late 30’s to early 40’s. He has a medium build — and is either bald or shaves his head. He was wearing a black NASCAR jacket with yellow sleeves.

He was driving an older style purple or maroon Plymouth Voyager or Chrysler Minivan. It has two bucket seats in front, and there was a child seat in the second row.

The victims say the van’s interior was extremely clean.

Chapman says women enter the sex trade for a wide variety of reasons: survival, poverty, domestic violence, or a lack of other options. She says society needs to better support women’s rights, as all women deserve to be free of a life of violence.