A former Chatham clergyman once charged with sexual assault is going to be confined to the Long Term Care facility in Kingsville where he now lives.
Justice Gerri Wong sentenced 66-year-old Harry Brydon to time already served and a year of house arrest for three counts of common assault.
Brydon had originally been charged with two counts of sexual assault and four of administering a noxious substance.
The allegations centered around contact he had with with three teens in the 1980s when he was a minister at a Chatham church.
The judge listened to victim impact statements from the three that were read into the record by the crown.
They told of being unable to trust others and inability to form loving relationships, feelings of guilt, rage, and consideration of suicide.
She said it was important for the victim statements to be heard, and for Brydon to hear them.
"I believe it may have been helpful to the victims to hear each of the statements," she said.
The she addressed the victims directly.
"The law doesn't always have answers," she said. "I doubt there is anything the law would allow me to do that would give you satisfaction."
Wong said the fact Brydon pleaded guilty to the lesser charges at least meant the victims didn't have to testify about the events.
"I hope you can have closure at least of the legal process," she said. "I will not suggest you will put this behind you but I hope you will be able to move forward."
Since the victims knew Brydon as a clergyman Justice Wong also said he was in a position of trust, that he violated that position, and ordered a DNA sample be collected in relation to all three charges.
