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PORT AUX BASQUES, NL – A Port aux Basques man has pled guilty to sexual assault of a minor.

The child was less than two years old at the time the assaults occurred.

In 2015 the offender walked into an RCMP detachment and confessed to two separate incidents of forced oral sex, which occurred between 2008 and 2010. He stated that the knowledge of his actions constantly bothered him and prompted the confession.

The Crown prosecutor and defense counsel submitted a joint sentence recommendation of 90-days conditional sentence, a year of probation, that the offender is prohibited from all contact with the victim, and counseling.

While provincial court judge Lynn Cole did agree that the defendant seemed remorseful and that a conditional sentence could be applied, she postponed passing sentence until it could be ascertained if a longer sentence was warranted. She stated that the very young age of the child rendered the act extremely aggravating under the criminal code.

The sentence will be passed on Nov. 15.

A publication ban has been ordered to protect the identity of the victim.

Rosalyn.roy@gulfnews.ca

Twitter: @tygerlylly