

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





A former Toronto area pharmacist has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting several sex-trade workers, York Regional Police say.

According to police, officers in York Region launched an investigation in 2012 into a series of sexual assaults on sex-trade workers. In March 2013, police say 36 charges were laid against 60-year-old Allen Chow in connection with the case.

Investigators say the suspect located his victims through various websites.

After meeting up with the women, police say he would drug his victims to knock them unconscious and would photograph or videotape the assaults.

Police say Chow, a Toronto resident who was known to frequent Belleville, Cobourg, Oshawa, Toronto and Markham, will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served at least one third of his sentence.