Blair Shane Somers, a 57-year-old paedophile resident of Cornwall, was convicted on Friday and sentenced to a six-year prison term for his past sexual acts against a youngster.
Justice John Mitchell deemed the attacks as “grave offences” while pronouncing the sentence for Blair Shane Somers, who was charged with sexual interference and solicitation of sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16. He was credited for the time he had already spent in detention.
According to the court proceedings, the victim was a mere 12 years old at the time of Blair Shane Somers’ initial assault. He was in his forties at the time.
A publication prohibition serves to safeguard the anonymity of the victim.
Mitchell saw that Blair Shane Somers occasionally accompanied the youngster on shopping trips and outings in the car.
“She was a little girl who needed protection,” the judge said.
Mitchell said the sexual offences had a “dramatic negative effect” on the child as she grew up; he said she faced depression and carried out actions of self-harm.
Now an adult, the woman gave a victim impact statement in which she said that while she knows she’s not responsible for what happened to her, she still feels responsible.
The court heard that Blair Shane Somers, too, had been a victim of sexual assault but said he wasn’t believed when he disclosed the abuse.
Blair Shane Somers had pleaded not guilty to the charges but was found guilty in June. The Crown told the sentencing hearing that he has not accepted responsibility for his actions.
Partly for that reason, Crown attorney Chad McQuaid asked for a sentence of seven to nine years.
Blair Shane Somers’ lawyer, Derek Bondt, argued that a sentence of four years would be more appropriate.
In addition to his six-year prison sentence, Blair Shane Somers has been ordered to have no contact with the victim.
He cannot own firearms for ten years, and his name and a DNA sample will be added to the sex offender registry.
Blair Shane Somers was previously found guilty of sexual assault in a separate case heard in P.E.I. Provincial Court. Blair Shane Somers is appealing that conviction.
The victim there was an adult, and the judge said that ruling didn’t have an impact on Friday’s sentence.
Immediately after he was sentenced, Blair Shane Somers looked back at members of his family, some of whom were crying.
He smiled, then winked at them before being escorted back into custody.
When asked if he would appeal the decision, his lawyer said Blair Shane Somers is “exploring all options.”
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