A 57-year-old Cornwall man was sentenced Friday to six years in prison for sexual offences he committed against a minor years ago.

Justice John Mitchell called the assaults “very serious offences” as he sentenced Blair Shane Somers on charges of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching of a victim under the age of 16. He was given credit for time already served in custody.

The court heard that the victim was only 12 when Somers first assaulted her. At the time, he was in his 40s.

A publication ban protects the identity of the victim.

Mitchell noted that Somers would sometimes take the child shopping and out for drives.

“She was a little girl who needed protection,” the judge said.

Victim still feels responsible

Mitchell said the sexual offences had a “dramatic negative effect” on the child as she grew up; he said she faced depression and carried out actions of self-harm.

Now an adult, the woman gave a victim impact statement in which she said that while she knows she’s not responsible for what happened to her, she still feels responsible.

The court heard that Somers too had been a victim of sexual assault, but said he wasn’t believed when he disclosed the abuse.

Somers had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was found guilty in June. The Crown told the sentencing hearing that he has not accepted responsibility for his actions.

Partly for that reason, Crown attorney Chad McQuaid asked for a sentence of seven to nine years.

Somers’ lawyer, Derek Bondt, argued that a sentence of four years would be more appropriate.

An image from a social media campaign against the sexual abuse of children. (Shutterstock)

In addition to his six-year prison sentence, Somers has been ordered to have no contact with the victim.

He cannot own firearms for 10 years and his name and a DNA sample will be added to the sex offender registry.

Appealing previous conviction

Somers was previously found guilty of sexual assault in a separate case heard in P.E.I. Provincial Court. Somers is appealing that conviction.

The victim there was an adult, and the judge said that ruling didn’t have an impact on Friday’s sentence.

Immediately after he was sentenced, Somers looked back at members of his family, some of whom were crying.

He smiled, then winked at them before being escorted back into custody.

When asked if he would appeal the decision, his lawyer said Somers is “exploring all options.”