Former teacher pleads guilty, admits to rapes and robberies

WARNING: The details in this story are disturbing 

A former Calgary teacher has admitted to a string of brutal sexual assaults, forcing himself on women while using a fake, but authentic-looking gun.

On Thursday afternoon, Andrew Frank Sorensen, 37, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault with an imitation firearm and five counts of robbery with an imitation firearm. 

Over an eight-week period in 2022, Sorensen robbed and sexually assaulted nine women at eight locations.

All but one of the victims were working in small, storefront massage studios during the offences.

• Calgary teacher charged after series of robberies, sexual assaults starting in January

A publication ban protects the identities of the women who were victimized by Sorensen.

Sorensen was a teacher with Calgary Catholic School District at St. Isidore School, an online-only school for Grades 1-9.

Sorensen's MO

Details of Sorensen's crimes come from an agreed statement of facts, read aloud in court by prosecutor Donna Spaner.

The offences took place between Jan. 10 and March 11, 2022.

After dark, Sorensen drove to various massage studios — and in one case a hotel room — wearing dark clothing, gloves and a mask. 

Then, he would force the women from the reception area into a massage room by threatening them with what looked to be a handgun.

In the massage rooms, Sorensen forced the women to perform sexual acts, in some cases, holding what they believed to be a gun to their heads.

In two cases, he raped the women, court heard.

Sorensen also robbed several of the businesses, demanding cash from female employees.

Sorensen left DNA on victim

On Feb. 23, CPS issued a press release asking for the public's help identifying the rapist and his vehicle. 

Despite this, Sorensen went on to commit two more sexual assaults and a robbery on Feb. 26 and March 11.

Det. Tim Fitzgibbons with the Calgary Police Service's sex crimes unit was able to identify Sorensen by reviewing CCTV footage from Sorensen's final crime scenes.

He also left his DNA on one of his victims who attended the Sheldon Chumir hospital after she was attacked. 

Sorensen will be back for a sentencing hearing in April.

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.