Stephen Hopkins stunned the courtroom yesterday by agreeing with all the Crown’s reasons for wanting him declared a dangerous offender.

It marked yet another bizarre turn in the case as the repeat sex offender continues to represent himself.

Hopkins has already been convicted of attacking a 17-year-old girl in her Cowan Heights home in 2020.

He got close by asking for a glass of water, then pushed her inside and carried her to a bedroom where he assaulted her physically and sexually, then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Hopkins was a registered sex offender at the time and had just served a sentence for assaulting female joggers on the Long Pond trail.

But rather than a straight sentencing, the Crown sought to have Hopkins declared a dangerous offender, citing several other incidents, and his high risk to attack again.

The finding could see the 33-year-old St. John’s man spend the rest of his life in jail or on probation.

Yet when given the chance to speak in his own defence yesterday, Hopkins declined, quietly stating: “I accept the Crown’s submissions to the court.”

The response stunned even the lawyer appointed to help him navigate the legal system.

“I have concerns about what Mr. Hopkins just told the court,” said the lawyer, asking the judge to disregard what he said.

But Justice Peter O’Flaherty refused, stating, “I heard what he said and I will take it into account.”

The last person deemed a dangerous offender in this province was serial rapist Sofyan Boalag in 2017.

Hopkins will learn his fate on April 12.