Editors note: this article contains details of sexual abuse involving a child, which may not be suitable for some readers. Discretion is strongly advised
NANAIMO — A man was handed a two-and-a-half year jail sentence for a disturbing series of crimes, including abusing his own young child.
The offender, who can’t be named to protect the victim’s identity, was handed his punishment by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Joel Groves in Nanaimo on Thursday, May 9.
He was convicted of three sex crimes in April 2023 following trial, including sexually abusing his then 19-month-old daughter.
During a 10-day trial earlier in the year, the offender’s former partner testified that she viewed a short video on the offender’s phone of him masturbating and rubbing his penis against his daughter’s vagina in their living room.
She quickly hid the phone in their home and immediately took her young daughter to the hospital.
The video could not be retrieved.
He denied deleting it, however, a thumbnail image of the abuse was recovered, which was consistent with what the mother described.
The offender’s legal counsel unsuccessfully attempted to argue he should not be found criminally responsible due to mental disorder.
The man will serve a further one year and 11 months due to credit for time already served.
He testified that he didn’t remember his confession to police and that he suffers from a form of insomnia which caused him to sleepwalk and behaviour without him being aware of what he was doing.
During sentencing arguments in March, Crown prosecutor Joanna Simpson requested a prison sentence of six to nine years, while defence attorney Tim Russell suggested a two-year provincial jail sentence.
In addition to abusing his own daughter, a collection of images determined to be child pornography were found on the offender’s phone.
The offender’s ex-wife provided a gut-wrenching victim impact statement to the court, stating her family has been shattered into a million pieces.
Prior relationships with friends are gone and replaced with judgment and fear, she stated.
“My trust has been completely broken, as well as my heart. But most of all, I’m saddened for our children. They’re hurt, sad, mad, and confused.”
A psychological assessment detailed deep remorse for the offender’s actions, but reiterated his claims he didn’t recall what he did to his daughter.
He’s considered a low risk to re-offend and was not diagnosed with any pedophilic disorder.
Constantly appearing highly distraught in court staring downward with his head in his hands, when given an opportunity to speak at sentencing, the offender declined, stating I Can’t think of anything.”
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