By Kirk Starratt
TC•Media
NovaNewsNow.com
A pre-trial hearing has been held for a Yarmouth man who will have a dangerous offender application hearing next year.
Gordon Frank Nickerson was present in Kentville provincial court on Dec. 10 for the pre-trial proceedings. The matters were adjourned to Dec. 19 for a status report, including an update on a pre-sentence report that the court had ordered.
Nickerson’s dangerous offender application hearing has been scheduled for April 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 30 and May 1 and 2.
Nickerson, who pled guilty to all 12 charges against him on April 16, has consented to being remanded in custody until the hearing. A court-ordered dangerous offender assessment and report have been completed. The Crown made the application to the court earlier this year to have Nickerson declared a dangerous offender.
Nickerson was arrested Feb. 29 after fleeing the scene of a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Commercial Street and Middle Dyke Road in New Minas. Earlier in the day Nickerson had assaulted and abducted two women in Yarmouth County, who were in the vehicle he was driving.
Nickerson was charged with two counts of kidnapping; four charges relating to sexual assaults, two involving the use of a weapon; breaking and entering a house and committing the indictable offence of kidnapping and breaching a peace bond.
Nickerson was also charged with two counts of assault; dangerous driving and failing to stop after being involved in an accident with the intent of escaping civil or criminal liability.
The court has ordered a publication ban on the names of the victims and any information leading to their identities.
Nickerson has past convictions for kidnapping and sexual assault dating back to 2003 and 2006 when he lived in British Columbia.
