'I'm disgusted with myself'

Article content

A mother of three who participated in a drug-fuelled Delhi robbery was given a break in Ontario Court recently due to her efforts to start her rehabilitation while in custody.

Cassandra Lindsey Mae Riddell, 31, of Norfolk County pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend, Cory Dennie, rob Dave’s Variety in Delhi on Sept. 21, 2018. Riddell acted as a scout and a lookout while Dennie, armed with a knife, lept over a counter, ripped out the store’s cash register and ran off with it.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

'I'm disgusted with myself' Back to video

“This kind of thing happens late at night in rural area variety stores where there’s only one individual working and it must be a terrifying experience to be confronted by an individual wielding a knife,” said Crown attorney Shane Hickingbottom.

“She was a party to an armed robbery.”

Hickingbottom also noted that Riddell was released to await trial and while on a recognizance she was found with 10 grams of crack cocaine in her purse.

But Asgar Manek, who was defending Riddell, said the woman grew up with physical abuse and, after a third child was born prematurely, she fell into a deep post-partum depression. Two of her children have been adopted and a third is being cared for by her mother and now Riddell is desperate to get clean.

“She wants to get in-patient treatment and relocate to Quebec, away from all the bad influences here,” said Manek.

Riddell wrote a note to Justice Aubrey Hilliard and explained that she’s taken every step available to her since being incarcerated.

“I’m ashamed,” Riddell told the judge in court.

“I’m disgusted with myself. I’ve been struggling for so long. I don’t know what it’s like to be a mom, to be a mom to my daughter. I can’t get better without being on the outside and I’d like the opportunity to do so.”

“It’s very rare that I come across someone who has gone out of her way so much to get help,” Manek said. “She wants to do the right thing.”

While Hickingbottom asked for 18 months in jail for the robbery charge plus three more months on the charges of possession of an illegal switchblade, possession of a drug and two counts of breaching bail, for a global sentence of 21 months, Manek urged a time served sentence.

Riddell had been in custody for the equivalent of 14.5 months when she appeared in court and Manek asked the judge to give her a one-time pass.

“She has shown us she can do good things so trust her this once to not come back. If she does come back, after promising to do the right thing, I agree we throw the book at her.”

Hilliard said that while the circumstances of the robbery were extremely serious, Riddell had pleaded guilty and had no criminal record.

“She’s been a victim of crime herself … but has availed herself of almost every opportunity to get help.”

Hilliard also said that Riddell’s pre-sentence custody was very significant for a first-time offender, especially experiencing the “well-known horrors” of the Hamilton Detention Centre.

The appropriate sentence, said the judge, was 15 months but Hilliard didn’t see the sense in making Riddell return to jail for two weeks so she allowed a sentence of time already served.

“However, I’m giving a longer period of probation than the Crown suggested,” she said, imposing a three-year probation that includes counselling for substance abuse.

Riddell was also ordered not to have weapons for 10 years or prohibited devices for the rest of her life.

“I hope you find the healing you’re looking for,” said Hilliard, “because if you don’t, I’m afraid we will see each other again.”

Last year, Hilliard sentenced Dennie to three-and-a-half years on the robbery and charges of breaking and entering, dangerous driving, failure to stop for police, possession of stolen property and five counts of breach of probation or court orders.

SGamble@postmedia.com