A Yarmouth man has been declared a dangerous offender and has been sentenced to an indeterminate period of detention.
Wearing a suit, Gordon Frank Nickerson, 38, sat quietly as he was sentenced in Kentville provincial court on Sept. 4.
Judge Alan Tufts said there are four avenues for the Crown to seek a dangerous offender declaration and, if Nickerson meets any of those four sets of criteria, the court must find him dangerous. These include a pattern of repetitive behaviour; persistent aggressive behaviour; an offence of a brutal nature; and failure to control sexual impulses.
“I’m satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Nickerson fits all four sets of criteria,” Tufts said while summarizing his written decision.
Tufts said evidence supports the conclusion that Nickerson constitutes a threat to the safety of others. Nickerson raped and sodomized two Yarmouth-area women. The victims were bound with duct tape and held captive for hours.
Nickerson “forced their compliance in countless sexual acts” which were “meant to degrade and belittle” his victims. They were forced into a car and driven to Kings County.
Tufts said there “are not enough negative superlatives” to describe the crimes, which had “a profound impact” on the victims.
Read more about the case here.
Tufts said the most relevant evidence was the report and testimony of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Scott Theriault, who found that Nickerson has a severe personality disorder and is at a moderate to high risk to reoffend. Theriault opined that his assessment “does not prognostically suggest a good outcome for future therapeutic endeavours.”
Tufts said Nickerson raped and sodomized another victim under similar circumstances in 2005 and was sentenced to five years of federal custody. Tufts said Nickerson received treatment and “had sufficient time to reflect on the seriousness” of his conduct.
“Mr. Nickerson learned nothing from his time in jail and the therapy he received,” Tufts said.
Tufts sentenced Nickerson to indeterminate detention in a penitentiary. The court granted a DNA order, a firearms prohibition order and a forfeiture order for items seized.
Nickerson was arrested on Feb. 29, 2012 after fleeing the scene of a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Commercial Street and Middle Dyke Road in New Minas. Nickerson had assaulted and abducted two women from the Yarmouth area, who were in the car he was driving. The court has ordered a publication ban on the names of the victims and any information leading to their identities.
Nickerson was charged with two counts of kidnapping; two counts of committing sexual assault while carrying an imitation weapon; breaking and entering a house and committing the indictable offence of kidnapping; two counts of committing anal intercourse; and breaching a peace bond in Wedgeport on Feb. 29.
Nickerson was charged also with two counts of assault; dangerous driving; and failing to stop after being involved in an accident with the intent of escaping civil or criminal liability in New Minas on Feb. 29. Nickerson was sentenced to one year, concurrent, on each of the motor vehicle charges.
Nickerson pled guilty to all 12 charges against him on April 16, 2012. The Crown made application to the court at that time to have Nickerson declared a dangerous offender.
A Yarmouth man has been declared a dangerous offender and has been sentenced to an indeterminate period of detention.
Wearing a suit, Gordon Frank Nickerson, 38, sat quietly as he was sentenced in Kentville provincial court on Sept. 4.
Judge Alan Tufts said there are four avenues for the Crown to seek a dangerous offender declaration and, if Nickerson meets any of those four sets of criteria, the court must find him dangerous. These include a pattern of repetitive behaviour; persistent aggressive behaviour; an offence of a brutal nature; and failure to control sexual impulses.
“I’m satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Nickerson fits all four sets of criteria,” Tufts said while summarizing his written decision.
Tufts said evidence supports the conclusion that Nickerson constitutes a threat to the safety of others. Nickerson raped and sodomized two Yarmouth-area women. The victims were bound with duct tape and held captive for hours.
Nickerson “forced their compliance in countless sexual acts” which were “meant to degrade and belittle” his victims. They were forced into a car and driven to Kings County.
Tufts said there “are not enough negative superlatives” to describe the crimes, which had “a profound impact” on the victims.
Read more about the case here.
Tufts said the most relevant evidence was the report and testimony of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Scott Theriault, who found that Nickerson has a severe personality disorder and is at a moderate to high risk to reoffend. Theriault opined that his assessment “does not prognostically suggest a good outcome for future therapeutic endeavours.”
Tufts said Nickerson raped and sodomized another victim under similar circumstances in 2005 and was sentenced to five years of federal custody. Tufts said Nickerson received treatment and “had sufficient time to reflect on the seriousness” of his conduct.
“Mr. Nickerson learned nothing from his time in jail and the therapy he received,” Tufts said.
Tufts sentenced Nickerson to indeterminate detention in a penitentiary. The court granted a DNA order, a firearms prohibition order and a forfeiture order for items seized.
Nickerson was arrested on Feb. 29, 2012 after fleeing the scene of a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Commercial Street and Middle Dyke Road in New Minas. Nickerson had assaulted and abducted two women from the Yarmouth area, who were in the car he was driving. The court has ordered a publication ban on the names of the victims and any information leading to their identities.
Nickerson was charged with two counts of kidnapping; two counts of committing sexual assault while carrying an imitation weapon; breaking and entering a house and committing the indictable offence of kidnapping; two counts of committing anal intercourse; and breaching a peace bond in Wedgeport on Feb. 29.
Nickerson was charged also with two counts of assault; dangerous driving; and failing to stop after being involved in an accident with the intent of escaping civil or criminal liability in New Minas on Feb. 29. Nickerson was sentenced to one year, concurrent, on each of the motor vehicle charges.
Nickerson pled guilty to all 12 charges against him on April 16, 2012. The Crown made application to the court at that time to have Nickerson declared a dangerous offender.
