Sentencing decision following a guilty plea to failing to provide the necessaries of life to a child under s. 215(2)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The offence involved prolonged and severe neglect of a vulnerable child who was confined to a room for months, malnourished, and developmentally delayed when apprehended by child protection authorities.
The court considered aggravating factors including the vulnerability of the child and the parental position of trust, and mitigating factors including the offender’s lack of criminal record, intellectual limitations, and demonstrated rehabilitation following release from pre-trial custody.
Relying on the principles governing credit for pre‑sentence custody, the court granted enhanced credit for 8.5 months of remand.
The offender was deemed to have served a 12‑month sentence and was placed on two years’ probation with strict rehabilitative and protective conditions.
