Editor's note: The following story contains strong language and graphic details heard in court that may not be suitable for some readers.
Having just pleaded guilty to a vicious assault on his girlfriend and about to be formally sentenced, Michael Brocklebank thought he could sweet talk a judge into less jail time than the 355 days agreed to by his lawyer in a joint submission with the Crown.
The courtroom had just heard the details how Brocklebank had punched, kicked and threw the woman into a parked vehicle in the driveway of the home they shared in Barrie during the wee hours of Dec. 31, 2024.
They had just celebrated a year together, mostly of it living with each other.
The only thing left was for Ontario Court Justice A.M. Nichols to sign off on the deal, the Canadian justice systems equivalent to a plea bargain.
Standing in the prisoner's dock, Brocklebank, 49, attempted to backtrack, asking Nichols for less time because he needed to plan around his looming eviction when he completed his sentence.
Brocklebanks lawyer, Eli White, could barely conceal his frustration, which was only surpassed by the incredulous reaction of Nichols from her judges perch.
With awkwardness hanging over the courtroom and the blood draining from Brocklebanks face when he realized his request was falling flat, Nichols granted White a short break so he could talk some sense into his client.
When he returned to court from the cells, Brocklebank had ditched his prepared remarks and seemed resigned to his fate, having clearly tested the judges patience.
This was a prolonged and quite vicious assault, Nichols told Brocklebank, pointing out he also had a previous domestic violence conviction three years earlier, along with a long criminal record that stretched back two decades and included a year-long sentence in 2007.
Nichols had already pointed out that the proposed sentence was on the lower end for similar offences.
Court heard details of how the victim required treatment at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie after fleeing the home to a friends residence, but not before Brocklebank berated her.
Lie there dead, bitch, Brocklebank yelled at the victim, according to the agreed statement of facts read out by Crown attorney Julie Janiuk.
White did what he could for a client who has spent most of his adult life living in the creases of society. He told court that his client was a father of four, one of whom was present in the house during the assault, but it was not made clear to what extent the child may have witnessed it.
White detailed Brocklebanks work as a contractor that came about after he was formally trained as a child services worker. White maintained Brocklebank made the change for financial reasons, but his clients extensive criminal record would have disqualified him from his previous profession in any case.
Brocklebank is subject to a no-contact order against the victim, as well as his own child that was present for the assault, along with the standard weapons ban and DNA order that come along with such offences.
Brocklebanks sentence was set 10 days short of a year to allow him to deal with his eviction from his place of residence, otherwise the sentence would have been a year, court heard.
With enhancements for pre-sentence custody, Brocklebank has about two months left to serve. He's been housed at Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) in Penatanguishene since the incident.
Brocklebank still faces a charge of impaired driving that was not part of the joint resolution.
