Man sent strangers to ex-girlfriend’s home for sex

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This article was published 19/02/2021 (1880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba man who lured strangers to the home of his unwitting ex-girlfriend, with promises of anonymous sex, was handed a probationary sentence Thursday in a case compromised by police bungling and delays.

Christopher Drobot, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal harassment after he responded to online personal ads soliciting sex and then directed the men who posted the ads to his ex-girlfriend’s home in southwestern Manitoba.

Provincial court Judge Catherine Carlson said the “unique” aspects of the case supported the Crown and defence’s recommendation that Drobot receive a conditional discharge with two years of supervised probation.

“I have to say, in other circumstances, (a conditional discharge) is unlikely to be appropriate,” Carlson said. “In most cases, it would be contrary to the public’s interest.”

Court was told Drobot’s online communications with the men included pictures of his ex-girlfriend, including one in her underwear.

Police were able to identify and interview five men who responded to Drobot’s communications and showed up at the 32-year-old women’s home between Jan. 24 to Feb. 21, 2018. Over the next six months, several more men would knock on the woman’s door, but were not ultimately identified by police, court was told.

All of the men left without incident when they learned about the deception. The woman wasn’t harmed.

Municipal police officers who executed search warrants at Drobot’s home mishandled the seizure and analysis of his electronic devices, compromising the Crown’s case had it gone to trial, prosecutor Jay Funke told Carlson.

As well, slow disclosure of evidence to the defence and miscommunications between local police and RCMP opened the possibility of a defence delay motion.

“This is a true plea bargain,” defence lawyer Lisa LaBossiere told Carlson.

Drobot was injured in a catastrophic highway collision in October 2017, several months after he and his girlfriend had ended their relationship. He claimed to have no memory of his subsequent criminal actions.

“It was a monumental event in his life, linked to his offending behaviour,” LaBossiere said. Drobot’s actions “were absolutely out of character” and “tied to the significant mental and physical issues he was suffering at the time.”

Drobot spent four days in a medically induced coma, and suffered injuries to his head, spine, lungs and pelvis, LaBossiere said. He continues to be treated for a brain injury and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

“His mental health has been seriously impacted by that motor vehicle collision,” LaBossiere said.

Drobot remained in hospital until Jan. 20, 2018, just six days before the first stranger visited his ex-girlfriend’s door.

Crown prosecutor Funke accepted Drobot’s claim that he had no memory of contacting the men, but disputed any suggestion his actions were the result of his brain injury.

“There is no evidence to suggest one is the result of the other,” Funke said.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca