A man who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl and left her naked in the snow was given a 10-year prison sentence Monday in provincial court in Stony Plain, Alta.

James Clifford Paul, 22, pleaded guilty in November to sexual assault and aggravated assault.

His victim suffered a traumatic brain injury during the attack, and now requires round-the-clock care.

In a joint submission at a sentencing hearing last month, the Crown and the defence both recommended Paul serve 10 years in prison.

On Monday, Judge Charles Gardner sentenced Paul to four years for sexual assault and six years for aggravated assault.

Attack involved 'unspeakable violence'

Gardner said the decision was a difficult one, since the sentence had to balance the fact that Paul had a tragic childhood with the horrific violence the girl suffered.

He said Paul grew up surrounded by addictions, abuse and violence.

"Given his tragic upbringing … it's no surprise to see Mr. Paul, at such a young age, before the court," Gardner said. "But the offences here are of unspeakable violence."

Paul attacked the child on Dec. 20, 2014, on the Paul First Nation reserve, 70 kilometres west of Edmonton.

Paul admitted to investigators that he lured the girl away from her family, sexually assaulted her, and left her naked in the snow. When she followed him and begged him not to leave her, he beat her with his fists until she was unconscious, and threw her into a bush.

When family members found the girl, she was suffering from hypothermia. She was flown to hospital by STARS air ambulance in critical but stable condition.

Five days later, on Christmas Day, the girl awoke from a coma. Friends and family referred to her as the "Christmas angel."

Many of the early stories about the crime reported that the girl was six when she was attacked. It later came out in court that she was actually seven.

In court on Monday, the girl's grandmother wept as the judge recounted the attack.

Paul looked at the floor throughout the hearing, until the girl's family left the courtroom.

He was initially charged with kidnapping and attempted murder, but Crown prosecutor Jason Neustaeter dropped those charges.

Gardner recommended that Paul serve his time at the Bowden Institution near Innisfail, Alta., 30 kilometres south of Red Deer, out of fear for his safety.

Defence lawyer Arnold Piragoff requested that Paul go to Bowden, an open-campus style medium- and minimum-security prison, citing threats and harassment his client has suffered from other inmates in remand.

Gardner said the final decision on placement will be made by corrections authorities.