‘He treated her with brazen cruelty’

Eskasoni man sentenced to jail for sexual assault

SYDNEY — A 28-year-old Eskasoni man was sentenced Friday to serve a federal jail term having been found guilty of a brutal sexual assault involving his former common-law partner.

Andrew Carter Morris was convicted of sexual assault causing bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (a knife), uttering a threat and three counts of breaching court orders.

The offences occurred in Sydney May 27, 2018.

Provincial court Judge Peter Ross imposed a 40.5-month sentence and granted remand credit of 16.5 months which means Morris must now serve a two-year sentence.

In addition, he is banned from possessing prohibited weapons for life and all other weapons for 10 years. He is to provide a DNA sample to the national registry and is to be a registered sex offender for 20 years. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim whose name is banned from publication.

The assault occurred at a Sydney apartment and spilled out into the driveway when the victim attempted to flee Morris who dragged her by her hair up the length of the driveway while she continued to scream for help.

It was a neighbour who initially heard the woman’s cries for help while inside the apartment.

The individual, who was only identified by initials in the judge’s decision, entered the bedroom and found both the accused and the victim naked on a mattress. Trial testimony indicated Morris was having anal intercourse with the woman who had a dog’s leash around her neck.

“This is something which might conceivably be an aspect of consensual sexual encounter but in the circumstances here give every appearance of the exercise of domination and control over the victim against her wishes,” said Ross.

He said the victim was crying and screaming and that it was not reasonable to think it was part of any kind of role playing.

When the bedroom door was opened, the woman fled, running naked out into the driveway, which Ross said indicated her extreme fear for her safety.

“His actions inside and outside constitute a continuous display of domination and control and humiliation,” said the judge. Morris did not testify at the trial. Four months prior to the sexual assault, Morris was convicted of assaulting the woman and at the time of the sexual assault, he was on release conditions that included he behave and keep the peace.

“Mr. Morris displayed utter contempt for the victim. He treated her with brazen cruelty,” said the judge.

During their relationship, Morris and his partner abused a host of drugs and Ross noted that Morris is making strides to rid his life of such abuse.

“Mr. Morris may not be a bad person but what he did to the victim on May 27, 2018 was very bad indeed,” said Ross.