A man from Hamilton has admitted to drugging and sexually assaulting two additional women, with the disturbing act of recording and sharing the assaults online. Bryan Hayward, 37, had previously pleaded guilty to charges involving seven women earlier this year. Originally set for trial on the recent charges, Hayward’s guilty plea in the Ontario Court of Justice has now eliminated the need for a trial, as confirmed by Crown lawyer Kelli Frew.
Justice Michael Wendl has not yet delivered Hayward’s sentence. The Crown is requesting that he be labeled a dangerous offender, potentially leading to indefinite incarceration, pending a separate hearing.
The case against Hayward traces back to May 2025 when he was arrested and charged by Hamilton police following an investigation into a group of men who drugged and recorded their partners without consent. In June, Hayward admitted to drugging and assaulting the seven women as far back as 2018, sharing the videos online under a pseudonym related to a date-rape drug.
During a recent court session, Frew disclosed details from a new agreed statement of facts concerning Hayward’s assaults on two women. The first victim, who met Hayward online in 2022, engaged in a relationship with him, where he disclosed his somnophilia fetish. She consented to being recorded while unconscious, only to later discover he had injected her with an undisclosed substance without consent.
The second woman, who reconnected with Hayward in 2023, was unknowingly given a depressant by him, causing her to miss valuable time and be reported missing by her family. Images found later revealed Hayward’s intentional actions of drugging and assaulting the woman.
The court proceedings also revealed that Hayward confessed to drugging three other women by offering them substances and taking advantage of their compromised state. Police discovered a range of dangerous drugs and substances in Hayward’s mother’s residence, including chloroform and methamphetamine. Additionally, he is facing separate sexual assault charges in Alberta.
Hayward’s next court appearance in Hamilton is scheduled for October 6 to discuss the timeline for his dangerous offender hearing. Gilles Richard, another individual from Hamilton, has been charged with similar crimes and is awaiting his court appearance. If you require immediate assistance or support, please contact local crisis lines or services for help. In cases of substance abuse, various resources and services are available for assistance.
