Vancouver Island man who violently sexually assaulted vulnerable women facing prison time

Vancouver Island man who violently sexually assaulted vulnerable women facing prison time
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Stephen Ewing pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault involving six women, one of whom was 15 years old.

Warning: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers

Disturbing details were heard in a Nanaimo courtroom Tuesday about a 42-year-old man who violently sexually assaulted vulnerable women.

Stephen Ewing pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault involving five women and one 15-year-old girl. Three counts resulted in bodily harm and a fourth involved choking.

According to a joint statement of the facts, the Port Alberni man would meet sex-trade workers, often online, and agree to exchange money for sex.

“There was, in each of these cases, consensual sex but then, unfortunately, evolved into non-consensual acts,” said Nick Barber, Crown Counsel.

The assaults happened between March 2018 and August 2019, with the majority taking place at a property on Industrial Road in Lantzville. One assault took place in Nanaimo and one in Parksville.

The Crown was not alleging Ewing knew the 15-year-old victim was underage. Online her age was posted as 18-years-old but the Crown said the victim’s young age should be considered an aggravating factor.

The Crown recommended a six-year prison sentence saying it’s difficult to find a case like Ewing’s, “who acted out so aggressively, so many times.”

Ewing’s lawyer Bert King argued four years was appropriate.

King said his client has pleaded guilty, he’s remorseful and he doesn’t have a criminal record.

King says Ewing has also attended counselling while he’s been out on bail.

Following the arguments Ewing was taken into custody to begin his prison sentence which will be decided by Judge Brian Harvey on Oct. 27.

A publication ban prevents publishing any details that might identify the victims.

Ewing was first arrested in August 2019 on three charges. The other charges followed.

Stephen Ewing out front of the Nanaimo courthouse on Sept. 28. (Kendall Hanson/CHEK News)

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