Former custodian details abuse at EMDC during kidnapping sentencing
The former school janitor found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a four-year-old addressed the judge at his sentencing hearing Wednesday.
Lawrence Thompson, 68, was found guilty earlier this year on four counts after a young girl was grabbed from a north London intersection and touched in appropriately in May of 2018.
He was convicted of sexual interference, sexual assault, kidnapping, and abducting a child under 14.
After hearing victim impact statements in July, Justice Alissa Mitchell set aside a full day for the continuation of the sentencing hearing.
Sobbing on the stand Wednesday, Thompson said he was really scared while at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London, and had been abused and threatened with death by other inmates.
"They were banging on my door threatening to kill me...they said I should hang myself."
Thompson told the court he was constantly looking over his shoulder and while there he was knocked out cold, had one inmate punch him in the head while another threatened to slit his throat.
Thompson says he’s been verbally and physically abused while in jail, had urine thrown at him, been forced to sleep on the floor and had his food taken away from him.
To cope, Thompson told the court, “I joined up with a religious group, I got into God big time...I just want to sit in bed and read the Bible.”
Thompson also told the court that he is really sorry about what happened and that he will regret it for the rest of his life.
The defence is asking that Thompson be sentenced to time served, while the Crown is asking that he be sentenced to 10 years.
Mitchell is expected to hand down the sentence on Dec. 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.