A Vancouver man who pleaded guilty Oct. 18 to assaulting a sex worker told a judge he paid the worker $300 out of kindness.
Benjamin Shi Bai Liu, 21, pleaded guilty to assault before Vancouver provincial court Judge Harbans Dhillon.
Crown Prosecutor Sharon Preston then stayed charges of unlawful confinement and communicating for the purpose of sexual services.
Preston told Dhillon the woman was at Slocan Street and Kingsway in Vancouver when Liu drove up and they made an arrangement.
“Mr. Liu apparently pays her $300,” Preston said.
She said the worker wanted Liu, then 19, to drive to a certain area but he went elsewhere, making the worker uncomfortable.
Preston said the woman tried the door of the vehicle but it was locked. So, she sprayed Liu with bear spray as he drove.
The court heard Liu managed to pull into a gas station, hitting a fire hydrant in the process. The woman then leapt from the vehicle with Liu chasing. He managed to get her into what witnesses called a chokehold, Preston said.
An off-duty police officer was at the scene and said Liu was restraining the woman “with excess force.”
“He thinks he’s just been robbed,” Preston said of Liu’s reaction.
Preston said the woman did not provide a victim impact statement for the court.
“She was quite upset about the incident,” Preston said. “It is a very dangerous profession. It must have been quite terrifying for her.”
In sentencing Liu to a conditional sentence with 12 months of probation, Dhillon said Liu was entering into a transaction with the woman.
“I don’t think that’s quite right,” Liu interjected. “I was doing it out of kindness actually.”
Dhillon continued, telling Liu he applied force, which is a criminal offence.
The judge said Liu perceived himself to be a victim.
“Those disagreements should not be resolved by force,” Dhillon said.
Dhillon ordered Liu to have no contact with the victim, who cannot be named under a publication ban.
He must also do 20 hours of community service work.
