Man gets 3-1/2 years for attacking transgender escort

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This article was published 24/11/2015 (3836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man who flew into a violent rage after hiring a transgender escort has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

James Leclaire, 29, was convicted earlier this year of sexual assault causing bodily harm and robbery for the July 2013 attack inside his home. Leclaire was out on bail at the time for a series of violent incidents in Alberta against his former girlfriend, including multiple sexual assaults. He has since been found guilty of those crimes and is awaiting sentencing later this year.

The Crown was seeking up to five years in prison for Leclaire, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He claimed at trial he was acting in self-defence, despite the evidence and legal findings against him. The Crown says these denials only add to his risk of re-offending.

“I wonder what underlying issues triggered the violence,” Queen’s Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg said Tuesday in handing down her decision.

Crown attorney Danielle Simard said there are frightening similarities between the Calgary attacks in 2012 and the Winnipeg incident in 2013. Both involved “extreme anger” and violence against women by a man who had otherwise lived a normal, law-abiding life up to that point.

Simard said the victim of the Winnipeg incident suffered extensive physical and emotional trauma as a result of the incident. Court heard Leclaire flew into a rage when the victim asked to be paid for her services after being hired online.

“This was a particularly vulnerable complainant living a high-risk lifestyle,” said Simard.

In the attacks against his ex-girlfriend, Leclaire got angry with the woman because he didn’t like her hanging out with other people, court was told. All of these incidents, which included three separate sex assaults, happened over a month-long period shortly after she miscarried.

Defence lawyer Sarah Inness told court her client had picked up sex-trade workers and hired escorts before without incident, but “this was the first time he had any experience with a transgender sex trade worker.”