A man has been arrested on charges of holding a sex trade worker in a home for five days, handcuffing and sexually assaulting her repeatedly in a “ritualistic” fashion.

Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins, head of the Toronto police sex crimes unit, updated media Tuesday on the arrest of 43-year-old Rejean Hermel Perron.

Police say a man and the 27-year-old woman met on the street downtown on March 31 near Sherbourne St. and Shuter St., where they “engaged in a business transaction” and then went to the man’s home in the Dundas St. E. and Jones Ave. area.

The woman felt uncomfortable at his home and tried to leave, said Beaven-Desjardins. She was threatened with a handgun, bound by duct tape and handcuffs and held captive for five days.

“It appears through investigation that she was targeted, that he has some form of ritualistic actions involved in the crime as well,” said Beaven-Desjardins.

She didn’t elaborate on the “ritualistic actions,” except to say that the man “did do things that we are very unfamiliar with.”

The woman escaped to the home’s front porch on Sunday, April 5, where a passerby heard her screaming, saw her and called police. The accused fled, and police found and apprehended him the next day.

Perron has been charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault and sexual assault with a weapon.

Beaven-Desjardins said Perron is known to police, but did not explain how.

“It appears that he does target sex trade workers,” she said. “I have no information that he has targeted before, but given the nature of the crime, there could be indication that he has.”

The victim is now out of hospital and in good condition.

Police have no evidence of anyone else involved, said the inspector.

Investigators believe there may be more victims, and are encouraging victims or anyone with information to contact the sex crimes unit at 416-808-7474, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Toronto Police Service has been in touch with the Ontario Provincial Police serial predator unit to check for similar crimes.

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Perron has lived in Toronto for 10 years, police revealed. He’s from Timmins, Ont., and has spent time in the Chatham and London areas.

Police released a photo of Perron, in which he’s wearing a white haz-mat suit.