Former custodian details abuse at EMDC during kidnapping sentencing

Sentencing in kidnapping and sexual assault case CTV London's Nick Paparella reports on sentencing of Lawrence Thompson, convicted for kidnapping and sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl.

London, Ont. — The former school janitor found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a four-year-old addressed the judge at his sentencing hearing Wednesday.

Lawrence Thompson, 68, was found guilty earlier this year on four counts after a young girl was grabbed from a north London intersection and touched in appropriately in May of 2018.

He was convicted of sexual interference, sexual assault, kidnapping, and abducting a child under 14.

After hearing victim impact statements in July, Justice Alissa Mitchell set aside a full day for the continuation of the sentencing hearing.

Sobbing on the stand Wednesday, Thompson said he was really scared while at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London, and had been abused and threatened with death by other inmates.

"They were banging on my door threatening to kill me...they said I should hang myself."

Thompson told the court he was constantly looking over his shoulder and while there he was knocked out cold, had one inmate punch him in the head while another threatened to slit his throat.

Thompson says he’s been verbally and physically abused while in jail, had urine thrown at him, been forced to sleep on the floor and had his food taken away from him.

To cope, Thompson told the court, “I joined up with a religious group, I got into God big time...I just want to sit in bed and read the Bible.”

Thompson also told the court that he is really sorry about what happened and that he will regret it for the rest of his life.

The defence is asking that Thompson be sentenced to time served, while the Crown is asking that he be sentenced to 10 years.

Mitchell is expected to hand down the sentence on Dec. 20.