Man involved in lewd sex act has case adjourned until June

A man who forced a woman with diminished mental capacity and physical disabilities to perform a sex act on his girlfriend, whom he also pimped out online, will learn his fate in June.

The 45-year-old Niagara Falls man appeared in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to several charges including sexual exploitation of a person with a disability and advertising the sexual services of another person.

He cannot be identified in order to protect the identity of the victims.

Court was told the offender had been in a romantic relationship with a 32-year-old woman for several years. Between December 2021 and March 2022 he arranged for his partner to meet with clients in their apartment and at other locations for sex.

“(The victim) was sold by the accused for about $140 for a half-hour service to $200 for a one-hour service,” assistant Crown attorney Todd Morris told the judge.

The defendant advertised the woman’s sexual services on an escort website.

With the assistance of her family, the victim was able to leave the relationship in March 2022.

Niagara Regional Police were made aware of the incidents several months later.

Court was told a 29-year-old woman with “diminished mental capacity” lived with the couple between August 2020 and December 2021. The woman also has several medical conditions and physical disabilities and used a mobility scooter to get around.

Court was told the woman said the defendant punished her for “doing something bad” and forced her to engage in a sexual act with the man’s partner.

The victim later told police she felt she had to comply because the offender was “the boss of the house.”

Judge Deborah Calderwood ordered a presentence report be prepared and adjourned the matter until June.

Court was told the offender has previous convictions for sex-related offences.