‘Shaken Beyond Recognition:’ Woman sexually assaulted by Jacob Hoggard speaks at verdict hearing

An Ottawa woman who was sexually assaulted by Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard in a Toronto hotel room nearly six years ago says her life was “shattered beyond recognition” by the incident.

The woman, whose identity cannot be released under a publication ban, spoke during a hearing for the Canadian musician’s hearing at the University Avenue Courthouse on Thursday morning.

“Before November 22, 2016, I was a different person. I was never the same after that day,” she said. “A part of me died that day that I will never get back. My life as I knew it was stolen from me and destroyed beyond recognition. The attack took away my worth, my privacy, my body, my confidence and my voice.”

Hoggard was found guilty of sexual assault with physical harm in June in connection with the aforementioned incident.

The singer faced the same charge in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage fan, but the jury found him not guilty. At the time, Hoggard was also cleared of one count of sexual assault after he allegedly groped the girl after a Hedley concert in April 2016 when she was 15.

The 38-year-old pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

In her victim statement, the Ottawa woman said she chose to go to court without the support of loved ones because she “couldn’t bear to see them suffer more than they already have.”

The woman went on to say that the “months after the attack were the loneliest and darkest days of (her) life”.

Follow this link to read the full victim impact statement

“I would wake up every night paralyzed with fear from the constant nightmares I was having that day. To this day I can close my eyes and put myself back in that hotel room,” the victim said. “I distanced myself from everything I loved . I missed important job opportunities at work. I missed important moments with my loved ones that I will never get back. I think that’s what hurts me the most. I broke up with everyone who was important to me. The isolation was unbearable at times.”

The Ottawa woman previously testified in court that she met Hoggard on a dating app Tinder and agreed to meet him in Toronto.

She was in her early 20s at the time and told the court Thursday the sexual assault robbed her of a part of her life that “should be full of opportunity.”

“Finally, before a sentence is uttered, I would like to give Mr. Hoggard a piece of advice. In his own words. ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon,'” the woman said as she finished.

The judge will not announce a verdict today

Hoggard’s sentencing hearing took a bit of a turn on Thursday morning when his attorney raised some issues with evidence in a forensic psychiatric report naming some of his sex partners.

The time it takes to assess the admissibility and weight of this report, issue a temporary ban on publication, consider the victim’s impact statement and review Hoggard’s “character letters” means that the Supreme Court Justice of Ontario, Gillian Roberts, did not render her judgment today.

A follow-up hearing is scheduled for October 14 from 10 a.m. via Zoom. Hoggard is given an opportunity to speak at this point.

Formal submissions on the scope of his sentence have also been pushed back, although the Crown has said it will seek a six to seven year sentence. The maximum sentence for sexual assault involving physical harm is 14 years.

Roberts, who is expected to announce her verdict at 9 a.m. on October 20, said she believes it is important to review all submissions in court before making a final decision.

“Everyone worked so hard on this case,” Roberts said in court. “Everyone wants certainty and I’m sure Mr. Hoggard wants certainty more than anyone in this room.”

On Wednesday night, CTV News learned the Ottawa woman is suing Hoggard for $2.8 million.

In a draft claim seen by CTV News, the plaintiff argues that in addition to causing mental distress, the incident prevented her from completing her education and impacted both her physical and emotional well-being.

In March, Hoggard was also charged with sexual assault causing physical harm in connection with another unrelated incident in June 2016 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He has denied the allegations and has said through his attorney that he intends to plead not guilty.

With files by Katherine DeClerg of CTV Toronto and The Canadian Press.