Man jailed six years for abusing Nanaimo area sex trade workers

“They have all clearly been hurt, not only physically but emotionally. The profound disbelief and hurt each of them suffered at the hands of this accused was strikingly obvious and shocking.”

Ewing, a 42-year-old Port Alberni man, pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual violence, including choking offences.

Judge Harvey called the offender’s behaviour repugnant.

“These allegations involve the complete abuse of very vulnerable sex trade workers that caused at least three of them significant physical and emotional harm,” Harvey added. “Their victim impact statements clearly outline their fears of this accused.”

The type of abuse unleashed by Ewing and the length in which he carried out his assaults were emphasized by the judge.

“I find that this accused’s moral blameworthiness on the facts in this case to be extremely high so as to require a lengthy penitentiary sentence in order to denounced not only his conduct but other like minded offenders who particularly choose to abuse workers in the sex trade,” Judge Harvey said.

A sentencing hearing in late September heard the chilling facts, leading to widespread condemnation for his actions.

In all of the cases, court was told Ewing agreed to pay vulnerable sex trade workers before the victims reported painful, non-consensual encounters.

The Crown requested six years in prison, while the defence asked for between four and six years behind bars.

An agreed statement of facts heard a highly aggressive Ewing victimized three females on separate occasions at a Lantzville address.

One of the victims at the Industrial Way cabin was just 15-years-old, however Ewing was told by a procurer she was 18.

The young victim was choked by Ewing and forced to perform oral sex to the point she vomited several times.

Another victim in Parksville was choked by Ewing against her will to the point she turned purple and began losing consciousness.

During sentencing arguments, the Crown’s Nick Barber outlined an “abusive and painful encounter” on Aug. 1 2019 at the Travelodge on Terminal Ave. in Nanaimo where the victim recognized Ewing after the fact from news articles and reported what happened to police.

Stephen Ewing of Port Alberni will appear on the National Sex Offender registry for life. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Ewing was originally charged with three counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm in August 2019 following a lengthy police investigation for incidents in Nanaimo in 2018.

Two additional charges were applied against Ewing late in 2019 in relation to allegations against him in Nanaimo and Parksville earlier that year.

A new charge was laid against Ewing a week prior to his sentencing hearing.

Two psychologists determined Ewing is a moderate to high risk of re-offending with sexual violence toward sex trade workers.

During a forensic evaluation Ewing reported being under significant amounts of stress at the time of his offending.

He will be placed on the National Sex Offender Registry for life, allowing police instant access to his current address.

In addition, numerous restrictions will apply to Ewing for 15 years once he’s released from custody, including not being in the presence of minors other than family members and restricted internet access.

A mandatory lifetime firearms ban and DNA sample were also applied to Ewing.

He apologized briefly in court last month.

“I’m just sorry for the pain and damage I caused. I’ve seeked [sic] help from wherever I can get it from counselling. I’m doing my best to try and live a better life and act better,” Ewing said, who helps run a family business in Port Alberni.

Ewing heard his sentence via video from the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre in Saanich while his parents heard the decision in-person in Nanaimo.

Ewing is scheduled to serve five years and 320 days in custody in federal penitentiary due to credit for time already served.

BC Corrections will decide where he serves his sentence.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Man jailed six years for abusing Nanaimo area sex trade workers

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