A Chatham-Kent woman who was sexually assaulted in the municipality in 1997 is speaking out about her ordeal and the ensuing trauma it caused.
Jenny Gibson was one of three teenage girls and one adult woman abducted from streets in Chatham, Thamesville, and Sarnia, driven to remote locations, and violently sexually assaulted between March and August 1997.
The two Chatham-Kent incidents occurred on May 23, 1997 along former Highway 21 in Thamesville and August 20, 1997 along Grand Avenue West in Chatham.
Jason Davidson, 53, formerly of Chatham, was sentenced to 13 years in prison in early November.
Gibson told CK News Today the sentence was too light, adding it has been a difficult time because she didn't feel like anyone believed her at the time of the sexual assaults.
"If it was your daughters, if it was their daughters, would it (sentence) be enough? Law enforcement when it happened was despicable, I was treated like garbage. They scoffed at me, it was horrible," said Gibson.
Gibson said she is truly grateful for the police investigation and that she didn't have to testify at a trial because Davidson pleaded guilty.
"I did get an apology from the Detective Inspector recently. All of the officers that have taken up the case since then, I'm so grateful to. It's kind of an insult to their years of work. They put in more years of work than this guy will serve [in prison]," Gibson noted.
She said the sentence gives her some closure, but she still fears what may come after Davidson is released.
"You know there's a lot of things I can just close the book on, now nobody can argue it. I'll probably feel better in a year. I'm still bitter and I'm not terrified at the moment, but I might be in 13 years or 11," she added.
Gibson also fears for her granddaughter's safety when Davidson gets out of jail.
Davidson must provide a DNA sample and will be added to the National Sex Offender Registry for life, is banned for 10 years from attending public parks and swimming areas where persons under the age of 16 are or could be present, and is banned from daycares, schools, playgrounds, and community centres during that period.
He's also prohibited from having a position of authority or trust towards persons under the age of 16 for 10 years and will be prohibited from possessing weapons.
