A 16-year city police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to repeatedly harassing a woman he was prohibited by a court order from contacting.
Jarrott Forsyth, who has been in custody since he was denied bail in February, was sentenced to time served.
Forsyth, 43, is a constable with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
Standing in the prisoner's box in a local courtroom, he admitted he communicated with the woman between Jan. 15, 2024 and Jan. 20 of this year.
In January 2024, he pleaded guilty to assaulting and threatening to kill the same woman, admitting he grabbed her neck during an argument in June 2023.
The death threats occurred between January 2020 and August 2023.
He received a suspended sentence and was placed on probation for 18 months, with conditions that included no contact with her.
SooToday has chosen not to report certain details of the case that could identify the victim.
On Thursday, the small courtroom, located on the first floor of the Queen Street building, was filled to near capacity with about 20 people.
Among those present were Angie's Angels, an advocacy group, named for a murdered woman, which raises awareness of intimate partner violence. It was formed following the murder of 41-year-old Angie Sweeney and three children in Sault Ste. Marie in October 2023.
The victims were shot and killed by her partner.
Her father Brian Sweeney was also at the courthouse for Forsyth's appearance.
Ontario Court Justice John Condon heard Forsyth immediately began contacting the victim following his Jan. 15, 2024 conviction.
He repeatedly called her, left cell phone messages and sent text messages, assistant Crown Jeffrey Martin said in an agreed statement of facts.
The Sudbury prosecutor provided the court with a bundle of text messages, which the judge noted contained 35 pages.
On July 24, Forsyth followed the woman from her residence to her workplace. In January of this year, he called her from Mexico.
In a victim impact statement, which the Crown read to the court, the woman described the anxiety, trauma, harm and fear she has suffered.
"No person should live in fear and relive things over and over," she said, outlining how Forsyth's actions have left her family exposed and "always looking over" their shoulders.
Condon also heard from the woman's parents and sister.
Her father described Forsyth's behaviour as destructive, verbally abusive and controlling, telling the judge, he is manipulative and constantly lied.
"My wife and I have had to add extra security to our home," he said.
Her mother said she feels like she is living in a jail and there is no peace for their family.
"I live in constant fear that he will do something in anger," she told Condon.
The woman's sister detailed her constant stress, anxiety, fear for herself and family, and concern about the toll his actions have had on her parents' health.
"I've only felt safe when he's been behind bars."
The Crown and defence lawyer Wayne Chorney jointly recommended the time-served sentence – the equivalent of 119 days, plus two years probation.
His client spent his time in custody in segregation at the Sudbury District Jail because of his occupation, Chorney said.
He also faces Police Services Act charges and "realizes he's likely going to lose his employment and he should."
Forsyth suffers from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"He desperately wants to be well," Chorney told the court, and "is amenable to treatment."
Condon asked Forsyth if he wanted to say anything and he responded "nobody is in any danger from me."
When he imposed the sentence, Condon described Forsyth's words as hollow given his behaviour.
"I rely upon your actions not your words," he said, noting "police officers are supposed to serve and protect."
Throughout your personal and professional life you've heard the message that domestic violence is no longer tolerated in our society, he told Forsyth.
Condon urged him to work hard to eradicate the demons in his life.
"I suspect you are going to need support beyond two years probation."
During his probation, Forsyth is not to communicate with the woman and her family members.
He must not be within two km of her residence and 100 metres of her workplace or any place he knows her to be.
He can't possess any weapons and must take any recommended counselling, assessments and rehabilitative programs for domestic violence, including the Partner Assault Response program, and psychological and psychiatric issues.
As well, Condon imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and ordered him to provide a DNA sample.
Forsyth's police act proceedings are scheduled to resume May 22.
He faces three counts of discreditable conduct.