Halifax man sentenced to jail on weekends for violent sexual assault

A Halifax man who told his victim "you look like someone who just got raped" after he had sexually assaulted her all nighthas been sentenced to serve 90 days on weekends.

Mitchell Leeander Goodwin was sentenced in Nova Scotia Supreme Court Thursday morning for an attack in early 2012.

Court was told Goodwin drank half a bottle of 151-proof rum the night of the assault.When the woman told him she didn't want to have sex, Goodwin said he would anyway, according to an agreed statement of facts read to the court.

He took her cellphoneand said he would hurt herif she tried to call or text anyone.Court was told that at one point, she tried to leave the bedroom, but Goodwin grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back.

The woman, whose name is banned from publication,begged Mitchell not to continue.

At another point, Crown attorney Chris Nicholsontold the court, Goodwin said, "Why won't you let me do what I have to do?"

The assault lasted all night. In the morning, Goodwin told the woman: "You look like someone who just got raped."

Later, when Goodwin was confronted by his victim's sister, he said:"I'm sorry. I know I f--ked up. It will never happen again."

'I'm deeply sorry'

Goodwin was not arrested until June2013.In an interview with police, Goodwin said, "I'm deeply sorry. I apologize for my actions."

The Crown and defence made a joint recommendation Thursday for the 90-day jail term, to be served on weekends.

In accepting the recommendation, Justice Jamie Campbell said if Goodwin had not pleaded guilty and spared his victim the ordeal of testifying, he would be facing a much longer sentence.

"She begged him to stop and he did not," the judge said.Campbell described the details of the sexual assault as "challenging" and "disturbing."

"No person has the right to demand sexual contact from another," the judge said.

Once he has finished the 90-day sentence, Goodwin will be on probation for three years. He must provide a DNA sample, he's banned from owning or possessing weapons and his name goes on the national sex-offender registry for 20 years.