Internet predator jailed for sex with teenage girl

Luring a teenage girl over the Internet and having a months-long illegal sexual relationship with her has landed a Calgary man a six-year prison sentence.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Marsha Erb on Friday agreed with Crown prosecutor Donna Spaner that at least six years in prison was warranted for Satinderjit Mangat.

Spaner had argued for a six- to seven-year prison term for Mangat on charges of Internet luring and sexual assault.

Defence counsel Jim Lutz cited a controversial ruling by the Alberta Court of Appeal to argue that Erb wasn’t bound by earlier mandated starting-point sentences for sexual assaults on minors who otherwise consent. He argued that a four- to five-year period would have been sufficient punishment.

Erb called Mangat’s conduct predatory, noting the offender took advantage of the anonymity of the Internet to lure his vulnerable victim.

In victim impact statements, the girl said she felt used and her dad told the court he had become hypervigilant about making sure his children were safe.

Mangat, 41, was convicted of two counts of Internet luring, sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference, but the latter two charges were stayed.

She also acquitted him of three child pornography related allegations.

The complainant testified she was 14 when she met Mangat, then 37, on an Internet messaging service in the summer of 2013, after being introduced to him by another female youth.

She described sneaking out of her northeast home, hours after first contacting the man she knew as Sam Pat on social media, to meet him in his car in the back alley.