Court hears how abuse affected offender’s children

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A junior kindergarten student who was sexually abused by her mother and offered to men for sex faces a long uphill battle on her road to recovery, court heard Wednesday.

At a dangerous offender hearing for the child’s mother in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines, a child protection worker said the youngster will likely struggle with medical, emotional and behavioural issues for years to come in light of the “victimization, betrayal and danger” she endured at the hands of her mother.

“She is not trusting of new adults given her horrific history of abuse,” the worker said.

The child was placed in foster care in early 2017 after her mother was arrested on dozens of sex- related charges. She has since been adopted.

The child protection worker said the girl, now six years old, often exhibits inappropriate sexual behaviour, including engaging in sexual play with a peer.

She is also confused at times as to why her adoptive mother doesn’t also engage in similar behaviour as that was what she was accustomed to in the family home, court was told.

“She requires constant supervision,” the child protection worker said.

“It is unclear what ( the victim’s) future holds.”

Also on Wednesday, the victim’s older sister told court her mother’s arrest “changed me for the better,” although she is still trying to come to terms with what happened.

“I got a job. I can hold my head high. I am a mother,” the young woman said.

“I can’t understand how a mother can harm her child like she harmed hers. I will never be like her.”

She hopes to be able to renew her relationship with her younger sister.

“It will take time to build back what was broken,” she told Judge Ronald Watson.

Their 34- year- old Niagara mother pleaded guilty in January 2017 to more than a dozen sexrelated charges including sexual assault with a weapon and making child pornography.

The defendant cannot be named due to a publication ban issued in order to protect the victims.

The Crown is seeking to have the woman declared a dangerous offender, which would mean she could be jailed indefinitely.

The judge could also designate the woman as a longterm offender. That designation would require the defendant to be supervised for 10 years after finishing any jail sentence imposed by the court.

Marlene Do Rego, a parole officer with Corrections Services of Canada, testified there were four women designated as dangerous offenders serving sentences in Ontario as of the end of 2016.

Those women were classified as violent offenders as opposed to sexual offenders.

Also, there were 18 women under a long- term supervision order in Canada at the end of 2016. Of that figure, four were in Ontario.

A court- appointed forensic psychiatrist testified earlier she believes the woman suffers from borderline personality disorder, a substance abuse disorder and a paraphilic disorder.

She said the woman’s risk of committing further sexual offences was “low to moderate.”

She also recommended the woman have no contact with any children under the age of 16.

The defendant was one of six people arrested on 77 charges in August 2016 following a lengthy 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 what police dubbed Project Iceberg. Some of the children had been victimized and others were being targeted as future victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.

The dangerous offender hearing will continue at a later date.