Jailed mother convicted of pimping, assault gets day parole

A Halifax mother who went to prison for pimping a 14- and 15-year-old girl has been given day parole.

Tashlynn Sheila Shaw was sentenced to just over two years and six months for living on the avails of prostitution, controlling movement, compelling prostitution and assault with a weapon.

“Court documents indicate that 16 additional related charges were dismissed as a result of plea bargaining,” said a Parole Board of Canada document.

“Your charges involved two adolescent females who were the victims of sex trade work under your direction, and who were fearful of you.”

The document says she assaulted one girl with a baton and knife. She was “engaged in a party lifestyle, suffering from depression, heavily abusing alcohol, while mixing said alcohol abuse with mental health medications.”

A previous Canadian Press story said Shaw would book hotels for the girls, buy them liquor and drive them to clients.

“There was some degree of choice here on the part of (the girls) but nonetheless, this was very destructive behaviour ... in exploiting the vulnerability of two young teenage girls for financial gain,” said Judge Robert Wright of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

Shaw provided an explanation to the board for her actions.

“You were dating a male who was already involved in the sex trade and you met your young victims through associating with others involved in that trade,” it said.

She told the court she had never worked as an escort and were involved in the sex trade for about five months, the document said.

“You justifïed your actions at this time by telling yourself you needed to support your daughter and that your victims were already involved in the sex trade before you entered their lives.”

Her parole comes with conditions.

She is not to be around females under 18 unless accompanied by an adult who knows her history, and if it`is approved by a supervisor. Her children are an exception.

She cant have direct or indirect contact with the victims or their families. She cannot be around sex trade workers or associate with those involved in criminal activity.

She can’t own a computer or any technological device that would give her access to the Internet, and she cannot have alcohol.

Shaw must also follow a substance abuse treatment plan.