Warning: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some. Discretion is advised.
A convicted extortionist and sex criminal from Central Saanich has been sentenced after pleading guilty to online sex-related offences.
Seamus Weeks was sentenced on Wednesday. He entered guilty pleas last year on four counts of criminal harassment, three for invitation to sexual touching under the age of 16, and one count each of communicate via computer to lure child under age 18, making or publishing child pornography and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
Weeks, who was 19 when he was arrested, originally faced 29 charges at the time of his arrest but it was reduced to 10. The crimes date back to 2016 when Weeks was a university student in Kamloops.
Court heard he contacted 14 girls and women using an online alias over several months. He demanded nude photos, threatened to rape at least one person and caused another to think of suicide.
His victims range in age from 12 to 26 and many were known to him.
Weeks will now spend the next 18 months in jail followed by a six-month conditional sentence and three years of probation.
In reaching her decision, the judge took into account the callousness of Weeks’ actions.
Court heard one of Weeks’ victims told him she had cut herself and he replied, “suck it up princess and take off your shirt.”
Another victim asked, “Why does it make you feel good to threaten to rape me?” He said, “I don’t know, but it just does.”
And yet another victim told him he had ruined her life.
The judge also considered his ongoing rehabilitation, his lack of criminal record, his young age and potential for the future.
CHEK News
