Man sentenced for extended sexual abuse of young Nanaimo girl

She was six years old when the abuse began in her family home, court was told.

Crown prosecutor Nick Barber said her parents are helpful, community minded people who allowed the disadvantaged Calvert to stay at their home.

While he was alone with the victim on numerous occasions, Calvert sexually abused the girl during and after showing pornography to her.

She suffered in silence for years, while what happened wasn’t revealed until family members of Calvert retraced his past when subsequent minors abused by him came forward.

Barber emphasized the extended period of offending and severe breach of trust as noted aggravating factors.

He read out a statement on behalf of the distraught victim.

“I spent many years convincing myself Rob, and all my memories connected to Rob’s existence, were just sick nightmares — that was way easier for me to accept. I didn’t want to remember that someone I trusted and looked up to hurt me like he did.”

The victim constantly lives in fear and suffers from depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

She is distrustful of adults and questions her own judgment after being violated by Calvert.

“I am consistently over-thinking, causing distress and panic attacks due to feelings of being unsafe outside of my home. My trust, safety and security for as long I can remember have never existed.”

The victim, now in her mid 20’s, was pursuing social work in university when the RCMP unexpectedly inquired about her experiences with Calvert.

She didn’t return to class the day she received a call from a police investigator, nor did she reappear at university as she wasn’t in the right mental state.

While accepting the joint sentence recommendation, Judge Ron Lamperson emphasized the egregious nature of Calvert’s offending and the devastating impacts his actions continue to have.

Judge Lamperson said he was sorry she halted her career aspirations.

“I think your life experience would give you an ability to be really effective in that kind of work,” Lamperson told the appreciative victim.

A prior psychological report stated Calvert has cognitive deficits and has issues suppressing unhealthy sexual desires.

Calvert recently began serving five years in prison for several sex offences against minors in the Fraser Valley area.

He’ll appear on the National Sex Offender Registry for life.

Numerous lifetime orders apply to Calvert involving him no longer having any direct contact with minors.

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by Ian Holmes

Man sentenced for extended sexual abuse of young Nanaimo girl

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