A 34-year-old man will spend the next eight months in jail for a vicious assault on his girlfriend that left her with headaches, cracked ribs and nightmares.
Derrick Shawn Hansen pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced to a year in jail and 18 months of probation following his release. He received four months’ credit for time spent in pre-trial custody.
Local RCMP received a report about the assault on Jan. 10. Hansen and the young woman were both drug addicts at the time and were at a friend’s house using when they ran out of drugs.
Without any money to purchase more, the pair agreed the young woman would perform a sex act on their drug dealer.
The young woman did so, but afterwards Hansen became angry, despite their prior agreement. He lashed out at the young woman, punching her repeatedly until she lost consciousness.
The woman was taken to hospital following the beating, suffering from a broken nose and a fractured cheekbone.
In court on Monday, the woman read a victim impact statement describing other physical injuries, including cracked ribs, ongoing headaches and trouble reading.
She said she also suffered psychologically from the attack.
“I isolate myself from my friends and my family because I do not want them to see me so emotionally unstable,” she said choking back tears.
Hansen has a lengthy criminal record, including other incidents of violence.
Crown prosecutor Jason Neustaeter and defence lawyer Marshall Gourlay put a joint submission in front of Judge Jeanne Burch for a jail sentence between nine and 12 months.
Neustaeter acknowledged that Hansen’s guilty plea was early in the proceedings and he had spared the victim the ordeal of a trial, but also pointed out he was a man with serious trouble controlling his emotions.
“He appears to have significant anger problems and significant anger management problems.”
Hansen spoke briefly through a video link from the Edmonton Remand Centre and apologized profusely for his actions.
“I am ashamed of what I did. I had to plead guilty.”
In handing down her sentence, Burch settled on a 12-month jail term, but said she also wanted some form of rehabilitation.
She noted Hansen hadn’t been on probation in 12 years, despite committing several crimes and thought some community supervision would be good for him.
“I don’t think jail will be the magic bullet to cure his drug addiction, even if he is clean while incarcerated.”
Hansen’s two months of pre-trial custody were credited on a two-for-one basis, leaving him with eight months left to serve.
While on probation he will have to report regularly to a supervisor, take any counselling directed and abstain completely from alcohol and drugs.
