A Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»man convicted of five charges relating to sexual assaults of a girl starting when she was nine years old is now awaiting sentencing.
On July 27, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»provincial court Judge Kathryn Denhoff convicted Preston Cody Dickins of sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 16, invitation to sexual touching under 16, making or publishing child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Dickins repeatedly shook his head as Denhoff read her decision on the offences that took place between December 2017 and August 2019.
Some offences took place in a room Dickins at times shared with his seven-year-old son, court heard.
Denhoff rejected Dickins' testimony in the case; he claimed the child had initiated the sex, images of which police found on his phone.
Dickins also claimed he had taken the images so he could show them to her mother if the child continued to initiate the sex.
“I reject Mr. Dickins’ testimony that (she) initiated the sexual activity,” the judge said.
Police also found 3,400 other images on the phone, which Dickins admitted fit the definition of child pornography, Denhoff said. However, he claimed he did not know how they got on the phone.
“Mr. Dickins’ entire testimony was entirely unbelievable and bordered on preposterous,” Denhoff said, adding in some cases the abuse went on for hours.
She said one image showed the child “wincing and whimpering in discomfort” and, in another case, was screaming, her cries muffled with a pillow.
The judge said the child, whom she called a credible witness, had told police, “I know it’s going to happen again and again and again.”
The judge said Dickins had volunteered to care for the child of an acquaintance while he was out of work.
“I am convinced that he took the actions to gain access to (the girl) to sexually abuse her,” Denhoff said.
Glacier Media has chosen to omit the disturbing details of the case.
The child’s name and any identifying information are covered by a publication ban.
