A Crown prosecutor told the Penticton provincial court on Monday she wants a man guilty of sexually assaulting a child in jail for seven years.

(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON — A man guilty of sexually abusing a child should be locked up for seven years Crown prosecutor Nashina Devji said.

She said the man, who cannot be identified due to a court order, sexually assaulted a girl for 18 months, several times week, starting when she was 11 years old and has shown no remorse. The offender listened to Devji from the provincial court seating area on Monday. He was out on bail. He is guilty of sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 16 and touching a young person for sexual purpose.

Devji said throughout the long three-and-a-half-year court process, the offender stuck with how events affected him - not on how his actions hurt his young victim or anyone else. She said he appeared unable to recognize the damage he caused or see himself in a bad light. He even described the girl as "evil" and the one with problems. Several family members have also blamed the girl.

She argued the man is narcissistic while defence lawyer Jame Pennington said his client is forthright and honest with his feelings. The two were trying to convince provincial Judge Meg Shaw their view on the man's state of mind and whether he should benefit from sex offender rehabilitation programs or a reduced sentence. A new sentencing date is expected.

Devji said the offender explained he's been unfairly treated by the government and its agencies. In his defence, he claimed he helped others with drug addictions and raised children. "He sees himself as righteous." The Crown said all these claims are pointless.

"The problem here is he sexually assault... (a child)," Devji said. "(He) destroyed a life for his own depraved pleasure."

She also does not see him benefiting from his family as some have blamed the victim for what happened. She said this justifies his behaviour and "feeds into a subculture of victim blaming."

Pennington said his client accepts the judgement of the courts. He said the offender's family support does not mean they condone negative behaviour. A psychiatric report was also favourable and did not recommend incarceration. Devji argued this point.

She said rehabiltation is one reason for putting someone in prison. The other reason is to protect the public.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1

News from © iNFOnews, 2013