A young Tillsonburg woman admitted in court Friday during her sentencing hearing that she had sexually assaulted two minors in a southern Ontario shelter.
Becka Irene Willbanks, who was shackled and handcuffed, prepared letters of apology for her victims.
Willbanks, a young mother herself, was sentenced in Superior Court to 3 1/2 years in prison for sexual assault and sexual interference involving a male teen and his adolescent sister.
Justice Ian R. Smith found her guilty last June.
But her sentencing was delayed for a presentence report, which ultimately required Willbanks to be taken into custody in November to ensure it would be completed.
Charged in 2019, Willbanks was accused of beginning a sexual relationship with the male teen, who was younger than 16. She had befriended his mother while both women were in a shelter.
A court-ordered publication ban is in place to protect the identifies of the victims.
Willbanks acted as caregiver for the boy and girl when she and their mother were in the shelter and their mother worked.
During a trial, four shelter workers tested about how Willbanks broke rules by being alone with the boy and how they began to suspect a sexual relationship.
After the teen admitted to his mother what had been happening, the mother called police. Later, the younger sister told her mother she also had been assaulted when Willbanks touched her inappropriately one night.
Defense lawyer Anne Marie Stewart argued that Willbanks – a victim of her own traumatic childhood and abuse – had acted out due to her own problems.
“It doesn’t diminish the impact or the consequences to her victims,” said Stewart.
“They have suffered harm. My client has acknowledged that impact and said she is truly, truly sorry.”
Stewart asked the judge to consider the lowest possible penitentiary sentence of two years, while assistant Crown attorney Lynnette Fritzley said Willbanks should get four years.
“We don’t need a victim impact statement in this case because it’s inherently known what the victim suffers in the act, the court process and the trauma that hasn’t yet appeared,” said Fritzley.
She noted the matter caused stress to the entire family.
The judge said that the fact the boy had willingly engaged in sexual contact didn’t alter Willbanks’ guilt. Courts have made clear that underage children don’t have the emotional maturity to give consent to sex, he noted.
“Ms. Willbanks was applying alcohol and drugs to both victims,” said Smith. “And it’s the responsibility of adults not to engage in sexual contact with children.”
The mother of the victims left court relieved but conflicted about the sentence.
“The angry part of me wants the hammer to come down and the sensible part sees she needs help,” she said after her former friend was taken away.
“Today is the first time I’ve seen some sorrow wash over her so I hope she takes this and moves forward.”
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