WARNING: Some of the details may be disturbing for some.
The Crown is painting Bruce Escott as a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde in seeking an 18-year sentence for the serial rapist.
The defence, meanwhile, is seeking exactly half of that.
Escott, now 82, was a doting father, grandfather, husband and brother, reliable worker, longtime fire chief and, in retirement, a cab driver.
But he was also a sinister and violent sexual predator who raped and assaulted six teenaged boys over the past 25 years — young, troubled, runaways complying in exchange for liquor, drugs, cigarettes or cash.
And if they refused, Escott took them by force, leaving one boy “hog-tied,” in the Crown’s words, down a dirt road along the highway after being violently raped.
“All are suffering mentally in every aspect of their lives because of what he did to them,” said prosecutor Deidre Badcock.
Defence lawyer MacKenzie Hughes and Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock in provincial court. (VOCM News)
Escott pleaded guilty to seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation.
Defence lawyer MacKenzie Hughes said an 18-year sentence for a man of Escott’s age and poor health would be “crushing,” noting the worst of Mount Cashel got 11 years while proposing a nine-year sentence for his client.
He also suggested the Crown is trying to set a high precedent ahead of the trial for Escott’s co-accused, Tony Humby, 64, scheduled for next month.
Court was told the two men had a pool of boys whom they abused and exploited. Escott would pick them up and bring them to Humby’s house where most of the assaults occurred.
Hughes said Escott’s family has disowned him over his secret and depraved double life.
Escott did address the court yesterday, saying: “I just want to apologize to the victims — basically that’s it.”
He’ll be sentenced on March 4th, the day after Humby’s trial is set to start.
