Pimp who lured teens given 14-year term

A Vancouver pimp who lured nine young victims into prostitution has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In imposing sentence on Michael William Bannon, B.C. Supreme Court Judge Gregory Bowden said aggravating factors included that Bannon began his criminal enterprise within days of his release from prison.

Bannon procured one of his victims while he was on parole, encouraged the young women that he targeted to provide unprotected sex, introduced some of the victims to drugs and took half of the money from their sexual services.

“His business generated substantial sums of money through the exploitation of vulnerable young persons,” the judge said.

Seven of the nine were girls under the age of 18, one of them 14. One female victim was 18 and one was a teenage boy. The offences occurred in 2014 and 2015.

The judge said the victim impact statements provided to him were “very compelling” and highlight the mental and physical harm they suffered at the hands of Bannon, who pleaded guilty to 22 of 25 criminal charges laid against him.

After Bannon, 35, entered his plea, the Crown and defence argued he should get a 14-year jail term. The judge said he was “satisfied” with that.

After credit for pre-sentence custody, Bannon will have a little over 10 years in prison remaining.

In addition to the jail time, Bannon will be on the sex offender registry for life, will have a lifetime weapons ban and will be required to provide a DNA sample.

He will also be banned from having any contact with his victims, and after his release must have no contact with anyone under 16. After his release, Bannon will also be banned from using the internet.