Man charged with alleged luring and sexual assault of multiple teenage girls

A Calgary man is facing two dozen charges after allegedly luring and sexually assaulting multiple teenage girls.

The Calgary Police Service’s Child Abuse Unit launched an investigation in January 2024 after receiving reports that a girl had been sexually abused.

Investigators allege the victim agreed to meet a man in person after meeting him online. The pair then met in the man’s vehicle, where he offered the girl alcohol in exchange for sexual acts, police said.

The victim told her mother about the incident and the mother called the police.

Police have now identified five more victims, aged 12 to 16.

It is alleged that the suspect met each of the girls through online apps such as Instagram and Snapchat, before meeting them in person. The suspect offered each victim alcohol or marijuana in exchange for sexual acts, police say.

Calgary resident Hammad Shaikh, 24, faces 24 charges, including five counts of sexual assault, five counts of sexual exploitation, four counts of sexual interference and four counts of luring. He also faces several charges of making, possessing and accessing child pornography.

The suspect will appear in a Calgary courtroom on September 10.

If you have any further information, please contact the police.

Calgary Police Issue Online Safety Tips

Calgary police offer some safety tips that parents can discuss with their children about their online habits:

• Be aware of who you are interacting with. Strangers online may not be honest about their identity.
• Never post or trade digital photos of yourself
• Never give out personal information such as your address, phone number or school
• Never agree to meet in person with someone you’ve been in contact with online
• Tell your parents if you feel uncomfortable or receive threatening emails, messages or texts