Judge commends harassment victim for weaponizing phone

An Ontario court judge in Simcoe complimented a high school student for her quick thinking when she was being followed by a man who turned out to be on the sexual offenders list.

Last month, Justice Gethin Edward suggested high schools might want to teach students they can “weaponize” their cells phones when in danger.

In March, a Delhi student was walking home from Tim Hortons at 9:35 am when a man began slowly following her in his vehicle and yelling to her to come over.

She eventually dialed 911 but, before completing the call, held up her phone toward the man. He sped away but, through social media, was spotted and arrested the same day near the Delhi District Secondary School.

“I commend the complainant,” said the judge.

“Maybe it should be taught in high school to weaponize your phone so that if you’re in a situation where you’re being visited by an individual you don’t want to be around, you hold up the phone and say ‘Hey loser! You’re being filmed!’”

Thomas Albert Taylor, 53, pleaded guilty to criminal harassment but also to a 2022 charge of dealing fentanyl.

He was sentenced in such a way that he will serve both a penitentiary term and a three-year probationary term – sentences that normally can’t be combined.

The fentanyl offense netted him a four-year prison term, less time already served of 115 days, and he was given six further months on the harassment offence.

Provincial assistant Crown attorney Lynette Fritzley said by ensuring he was sentenced separately on the federal drug charge and the provincial harassment charge, the probation was a legal one and would keep him away from high schools.

Taylor was placed on the sexual offenders registry system in 2020 after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an unconscious woman he had been intimate with in the past.

Last fall, police were tracking Taylor and monitoring his cell phone as he made numerous short visits to people in Brantford.

When he was stopped and arrested, officers found 25 grams of fentanyl, with a street value of more than $7,500, plus 12 grams of methamphetamine, each hidden under multiple layers of the car’s floor mats.

Taylor said he had “nothing to say on the matter” but his lawyer said while the father of four has no addiction or mental health issues, he admits to being constantly around the wrong people.

“He doesn’t plan on sticking around once he’s out,” said defense lawyer Ryan Stewart.

“He wants to head out west to Alberta and would rather not have probation but understands it’s for the protection of high school students.”

Along with probation orders to stay away from two specific teens for three years, Taylor’s order says he can’t be within 40 meters of any high school unless he’s just passing it at the posted speed limit.

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