‘A parent’s worst nightmare’: Victim impact statements read at babysitter sexual assault sentencing hearing

Warning: This story accommodates graphic content material that could be upsetting to readers.

The dad and mom of younger women who have been repeatedly sexually assaulted by their babysitter spoke in court docket Wednesday of their perpetual emotions of anguish, anger and guilt for unknowingly leaving their youngsters within the fingers of a predator.

“The affect of what occurred to my daughter will final a lifetime for her and for our household,” mentioned one mom of a now-14-year-old lady, studying a sufferer affect assertion. “Why did this should occur to our candy little lady?”

The person convicted of sexually abusing the lady and two others is Michael Andress, a 71-year-old Hamilton resident who was a babysitter, church volunteer, crossing guard and Scouts Canada chief.

On Oct. 20, 2021, a jury discovered him responsible of all three counts of sexual interference. The offences occurred between 2009 and 2019. One sufferer testified he sexually assaulted her hundreds of instances.

He was arrested in Might 2019 and has been out on bail since June 2019.

Members of the family of the victims attended court docket in particular person Monday for Andress’ sentencing listening to. One sufferer attended nearly through livestream. None of those that submitted sufferer affect statements will be recognized as a result of an ordinary publication ban on victims’ identities.

The daddy of 1 lady sobbed because the Crown learn aloud a sufferer affect assertion on his behalf.

“A mum or dad’s worst nightmare has occurred to my daughter,” learn the daddy’s assertion, learn by assistant Crown lawyer Sean Doherty. “I began asking myself, did we as dad and mom fail? ... Who did we go away our kids with — the satan?”

The assertion detailed a name the dad and mom made in 2014 to the Andress house when Michael and his spouse have been babysitting their daughter. The couple was on trip in a special nation. The lady, then 12, was quiet on the telephone and requested her dad and mom to come back house. They thought she simply missed them, the assertion learn.

“I now know my little one was quietly screaming at us for assist that day,” learn the daddy’s assertion.

Their daughter, now 20, mentioned she suffered despair, nervousness, suicidal ideas and PTSD after the abuse, in response to her assertion, additionally learn aloud by Doherty.

Her mom spoke to her daughter’s bravery. She was the primary to report the sexual assault to police in 2019. One other sufferer later got here ahead. The third sufferer, the youngest, was in Andress’ house when he was arrested in 2019.

“If not for (the sufferer’s) bravery in coming ahead to the police, how for much longer ... would (the youngest sufferer) have been abused? Would (the second sufferer) have saved it in?” mentioned Doherty, addressing the court docket.

Andress, who sat within the prisoner’s field sporting a inexperienced sweater and a navy jacket, his white hair worn lengthy, additionally addressed the court docket, as did his spouse.

Addressing the court docket, Andress mentioned he wasn’t responsible. He urged he would have fled the nation if he was actually responsible. His spouse mentioned she didn’t imagine her husband was able to perpetrating such crimes.

The Crown requested for 10 to 12 years in jail, whereas the defence requested for five-and-a-half to seven years.

Andress’ sentencing date is scheduled for March 10.

Sources for survivors of sexual violence:

SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre, Hamilton and Space): 24-hour assist line 905-525-4162; sacha.ca.

Kids’s Help Society — consumption line: (905) 522-1121.

Catholic Kids’s Help Society — consumption line: (905) 525-2012.

SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Companies of Halton): 905-875-1555.

Sexual Assault/Home Violence Care Centre at Hamilton Well being Sciences: 905-521-2100 ext. 73557.