He's accused of drugging, assaulting and posting a video of a woman. He was on probation at the time of his arrest

Hamilton Spectator

24-05-2025

A Hamilton man accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, and then sharing the assault video, pleaded guilty earlier this year in an incident where a woman accused him of following her vehicle.
Bryan Hayward
was still on probation when he was arrested last week and charged with multiple offences connected to the sexual assault case, court records show.
Last July, Hamilton police received a 911 call from a woman driving on the Mountain, reporting that a man she had a relationship with was following her, and she believed he had placed a tracker in her car.
She told dispatch she was on her way to the Mountain station when Hayward blocked her car, then followed her and pushed her vehicle with his while she was braking, the Crown said in court in January.
The tracker allegation was never proven, but when police stopped Hayward in a beige Hyundai Elantra on Rymal Road, they found her licence plates — which had been reported stolen — in his vehicle.
Hayward was charged with harassment, dangerous driving, and possession of stolen property under $5,000, along with Highway Traffic Act (HTA) offences because he was a prohibited driver.
In court in January, Hayward pleaded guilty to the possession charge and an HTA offence for driving while prohibited.
He told the court that the pair had been headed to the station to exchange property, and he denied pushing her vehicle.
He was fined $1,000 for the driving offence and sentenced to a year of probation. Other charges were withdrawn.
The 36-year-old, arrested May 16 at a Hamilton Tim Hortons, now faces a long list of charges, also including possession of drugs. Among the substances he's accused of possessing is GHB, known to be used as a date rape drug.
He is also charged with breaching probation and, again, with driving while prohibited.
Hamilton police say the investigation was spurred by a victim and then a member of the media coming forward.
CTV has reported that Hayward is featured in an upcoming 'W5' documentary about an international network of men who appear to be drugging and raping women, and then sharing videos of their crimes on pornography websites.
The Hamilton charges relate to a single victim, who cannot be identified due to a standard publication ban protecting victims of sexual offences. However, police say they believe there are more victims, and some have come forward since the news of Hayward's arrest.
Police have said they believe he may have met victims, including some who may not have known they were victimized, through online dating websites.
In January, court heard Hayward is supported by disability benefits. However, he also appears to have a general contracting business.
On Dec. 21, 2021, Hayward was charged with making an explosive following an incident that led to his hand needing to be amputated. However, court records show that charge was withdrawn a month later.
Hamilton police have described Hayward as a white man, five feet 10 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with brown hair and an amputated left hand.
Hayward, who remains in custody, is scheduled to appear in court by video Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Curtis Patton of the sex crimes unit at
905-540-5545
or the non-emergency line at
905-540-5553
.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at
1-800-222-8477
or
crimestoppershamilton.com
.
For confidential support, call the Sexual Assault Centre's 24-hour support line at
905-525-4162
or connect at
sacha.ca
, or the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at
hhsc.ca/sadv
or the Centre de Santé Communautaire at
cschn.ca
.