MOOSE JAW — Richard Dyke’s sexual abuse of dozens of children over several decades negatively affected them and their parents, as evidenced by comments some wrote in their victim impact statements.
During the sentencing for the Assiniboia man on May 21 in Moose Jaw Provincial Court, several victim impact statements were read aloud, either in full or snippets. Below are some comments from the victims and their parents; due to a publication ban, none can be named.
Comments from the Crown prosecutor follow afterward.
Comments from victims, parents
One victim wrote that his behavioural issues growing up were due to Dyke’s abuse and he felt anger, embarrassment and shame, and suffered from depression.
He also pushed away his father since the latter was friends with Dyke. However, he has now repaired his relationship with his dad.
“This offence doesn’t affect me to the extent now that it did before because I have family and friends I can talk to about this incident, which is very helpful, but it does still make me upset (and) embarrassed (and) I’m so ashamed that it is a part of me,” the victim added. “But I can’t change the past, so only live in the present and create the future.”
A second victim wrote that he had lost his trust in people and his sense of self, while he struggled to feel normal.
“I’m left in a state of paranoia (and) I have a constant fear of being watched no matter where I go or what I do. I’m always checking to see if there’s cameras or If I’m being recorded,” he continued.
In another statement, a mother questioned how this abuse could have happened and how there were no signs that it was happening. Moreover, she feels like a bad parent for not realizing this was happening and for letting it occur.
“How could I not protect my child and keep the innocence? I spent many hours talking and trying to cope with ways to manage this. I spent time beating myself up,” she wrote. “I felt full of anger, regret and anguish.”
The woman added that this period has left her feeling physically and emotionally drained, that time won’t fix this issue and that she is not confident she can parent ever again.
Another mother wrote that Dyke robbed many children of their “sweet innocence,” while she felt she was living in a never-ending nightmare and expected the trauma to last forever.
“The agony I feel every single day now knowing that I sent my child into a daycare that would make my worst fear a reality is completely unbearable,” she added.
A third mother said her child is no longer allowed to attend sleepovers with friends but only close family members, as their “trust in people is forever tarnished.”
Continuing, the woman wrote that her responsibility is to protect her child and provide a safe, nurturing environment where she could grow and thrive. She thought she was doing that by taking her daughter to the daycare, but Dyke’s actions “shattered (her) sense of trust and security in others.”
“Our entire family has felt the effects of these. We’re experiencing sleepless nights, crippling guilt (and) overwhelming fear,” the mother added.
Crown’s comments
“The Crown is very pleased with Judge (Brian) Hendrickson’s decision. We’re very happy with him accepting our joint submission,” said Crown prosecutor Stephen Yusuff. “We believe it holds Mr. Dyke responsible in a serious way for his actions … .”
The gravity of this case “was very, very serious” since Dyke’s offences occurred in five Saskatchewan communities across several decades and involved 33 victims, the prosecutor continued. Dyke’s 17-year jail sentence is the longest-ever in the province for these types of offences, as the previous highest was 15 years.
Deterrence and denunciation are concepts the court must address with cases like this, so this “severe sentence” should deter Dyke from reoffending, Yusuff said. It also sends the message that those who abuse children will be held responsible, “severely punished” and find “there is no room for escaping accountability.”
Meanwhile, Yusuff said Dyke’s guilty pleas meant trials in multiple communities weren’t required, which could have forced victims and families to testify and could have generated more trauma.
“They were relieved, that at long last, it seems as if some closure is coming,” he added.
