Dangerous offender hearing underway for sexually abusive mom
A Niagara woman believed her four- year- old daughter enjoyed being sexually abused and that the girl was “jealous” of her mother’s boyfriends, court heard Monday.
“I want you to give her what she wants and needs,” the woman wrote about the child in a text message to a man and then added she thought the child wanted to have sex.
The 34- year- old woman pleaded guilty in January 2017 to 17 sexrelated offences including sexual assault with a weapon and making and distributing child pornography. The woman’s identity is protected under a publication ban to protect the victims.
The Crown’s office is now seeking to have the defendant declared a dangerous offender, which would mean she could be jailed indefinitely.
A dangerous offender hearing began Monday in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines with testimony from a court- appointed forensic psychiatrist who conducted a series of tests on the mother of two, including a risk assessment for sexual recidivism.
Dr. Treena Wilkie testified the woman suffers from borderline personality disorder, a substance abuse disorder and a paraphilic disorder.
Paraphilias are disorders involving sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviours. For the defendant, the doctor explained, she has pedophilia paraphilic disorder, which is defined as sexual activity with a child that is pre- pubescent.
There is no cure for the disorder, court was told, but therapy can assist with relapse prevention. Sex drive- reducing medications can also be beneficial to some individuals.
Wilkie told court it is rare for a woman to be diagnosed with a paraphilic disorder.
She said medication and therapy can often assist individuals in managing symptoms of borderline personality disorder.
Wilkie said the woman did express a degree of remorse and guilt about what happened to her child, but added there were indications she “minimized” her role in the crime.
Also, tests indicated the woman does not suffer from any neurological condition or intellectual disability.
Transcripts of sexually- explicit text messages the defendant sent to several men were filed in court.
In one text conversation, she complained her young child was jealous of her boyfriends.
“Every time I bring a guy over, she’s all over them,” the woman wrote.
In another text exchange, the woman wrote “family sex is natural and sexy.”
The defendant was one of six people arrested in August 2016 following a nine- month investigation by Niagara Regional Police into the sexual abuse and internet exploitation of young children.
Six children, aged four to 17, were identified and rescued in an operation police dubbed Project Iceberg.
Four men — three from Niagara and one from Toronto — were charged with multiple sex crimes against children.
The hearing continues today before Judge Ronald Watson.