A Vancouver man convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl will have to wait to be sentenced because he has fired his lawyer.
On July 27, 2022, Vancouver provincial court Judge Kathryn Denhoff convicted Preston Cody Dickins of sexual assault, sexual interference of a person under 16, invitation to sexual touching under 16, making or publishing child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Some of offences took place in a room Dickins at times shared with his seven-year-old son.
Denhoff rejected Dickins' testimony in the case; he claimed the child had initiated the sex, images of which police found on his phone.
Dickins also claimed he had taken the images so he could show them to her mother if the child continued to initiate the sex.
“I reject Mr. Dickins’ testimony that (she) initiated the sexual activity,” Denhoff said in her July conviction.
Police also found 3,400 other images on the phone, which Dickins admitted fit the definition of child pornography, Denhoff said. However, he claimed he did not know how they had got on the phone.
“Mr. Dickins’ entire testimony was entirely unbelievable and bordered on preposterous,” Denhoff said, adding in some cases the abuse went on for hours.
Prior to an April 24 hearing, Dickins could be heard swearing at his lawyer, Eric Warren, in the courthouse hallway.
Once in court, he told Denhoff he no longer wanted Warren as his lawyer. As such, he applied for an adjournment of the sentencing.
Denhoff was unhappy at the turn of events, citing repeated delays. She said the Crown had filed its documents months ago while Warren had delayed.
Dickins said he would be seeking a new lawyer.
“I will provide to new counsel whatever I have,” Warren said.
“I expect the sentencing proceedings to proceed as soon as possible,” Denhoff said, adjourning the case to May 8.
In convicting Dickins, the judge said the child, whom she called a credible witness, had told police, “I know it’s going to happen again and again and again.”
“I am convinced that he took the actions to gain access to (the girl) to sexually abuse her,” Denhoff said.
The child’s name and any identifying information are covered by a publication ban.
