A 39-year-old convicted pedophile, who kept reoffending despite receiving extensive treatment, was labeled a dangerous offender on Monday morning.
This classification means Craig Vannatter could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison, as he received an indeterminate sentence for the abduction and forcible confinement of a five-year-old girl at the Tillsonburg Community Centre back in 2009.
“(This parent) experienced every parent’s worst nightmare – the abduction of their child,” Superior Court Justice Kelly Gorman remarked. “The constant questioning and self-doubt she has experienced must be overwhelming.”
Gorman, who issued a 42-page ruling, expressed her main concern about Vannatter’s release into society, noting he would pose “a significant risk to the community at the close of the 10-year period of supervision.”
A supervision order can only be enforced for up to 10 years after completing a sentence.
She also mentioned that she was convinced Vannatter had shown “a pattern of repetitive predatory sexual behaviour.”
“It is clear to me that he is unable to restrain his behavior and there continues to exist a strong likelihood of his causing injury, death, or severe psychological damage to other persons, specifically prepubescent girls,” Gorman stated.
The Crown’s rare application for Vannatter’s dangerous offender status had been progressing through the court system since his conviction in 2011.
Assistant Crown Gary Nikota described this designation as “a tragic necessity.”
“We don’t bring these applications lightly,” he said. “Given his history, there was no option from the Crown’s perspective. I hope he seeks counselling and treatment.”
Vannatter is classified as a high-intensity sexual offender with a lengthy history of sexual offenses. In this most recent case, he persuaded a five-year-old girl to follow him to the squash courts at the Tillsonburg Community Complex and took her into the women’s washroom while locking the door.
Meanwhile, her mother was frantically searching for her daughter and calling out her name while knocking on the washroom door.
Though Vannatter covered the girl’s mouth with his hand, it was found that he hadn’t assaulted her otherwise. Later on, he told a psychiatrist that this incident happened because he “was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The mother shared in her victim-impact statement that she has “replayed the evening the event took place over and over in my head.”
Fearing for her daughter’s safety constantly, she admitted she “panics in stores if she goes down an aisle and I can’t see her.”
She also thanked Vannatter for “reassuring me that you can never be too safe, that my children can never be too close.”
Before this incident in Tillsonburg, Vannatter had three prior convictions for sexual assault along with multiple charges related to drug possession, thefts, and one charge involving possession of a prohibited weapon.
In 1995, along with three others, Vannatter pinned down and sexually assaulted a woman in an apartment. Then in 1996, he received four years’ imprisonment after sexually assaulting two children under four years old. In 2002, he faced three counts of sexual assault relating to two young girls aged seven and eight. Since those girls couldn’t testify against him, he pleaded guilty to breaching recognizance by not disclosing his past sexual assault conviction to their caregiver.
A separate incident saw him sentenced to six months behind bars in 2008 for violating a non-communication order concerning an ex-girlfriend.
Durring incarceration , Vannatter participated in counseling designed for high-intensity sexual offenders through Corrections Service Canada which aimed at preventing relapse through both group sessions and individual therapy. A final evaluation indicated that Vannatter “appeared not to associate harm to the child with his child molestation,” categorizing him as high risk for reoffending within five to fifteen years.
While under supervision from 2002 until 2006 , he continued attending weekly therapy sessions along with participating in community outreach programs.
A clinical assessment confirmed that Vannatter suffered from pedophilia linked specifically towards prepubescent and pubescent females alongside having personality disorders marked by impulsivity , aggression , delinquency , and deception. His therapist raised concerns regarding how much his behavior seemed driven by impulse without any grooming actions observed beforehand.
He also found out there were “no major changes” during periods when Vanntater used Lupron – medication meant reduce unwanted urges. p >
Another psychiatrist highlighted how likely it is he’ll commit further sexual or violent acts.. observing previously he’d been “indifferent” towards foreseeable outcomes arising from those actions. p >
However , they noted there remains potential for successful reintegration into society if closely monitored whilst undergoing ” sex-drive reducing pharmacotherapy “, hinting toward some prospect control risks later down road. p >
This professional further acknowledged once freed from requirement taking Lupron ; Vanntater ceased usage stating “my offending.. is mind over matter.” p >
heather. rivers@sunmedia. ca p >
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