A former assistant hockey coach from Kamloops has been sentenced to a year in jail for sexually abusing one of her 15-year-old players.
Heidi Ferber must also serve 18 months’ probation and register as a sex offender for the offences, which started in 2010 with a girl from her midget hockey team.
Ferber, who was 39 at the time of the abuse, pleaded guilty to counts of sexual exploitation and sexual interference earlier this year.
Victim Chanelle Petrie said Ferber preyed on her as a young teenager and ultimately inflicted psychological damage.
“There was grooming. She isolated me and gained my trust,” said Petrie, who is now 18 years old.
Court initially placed a publication ban on Petrie’s identity, as it does for all victims of sex abuse, but she applied to have it removed.
Her decision also allowed the court to publicly identify her abuser.
Petrie said she hopes her actions will inspire other victims in similar situations to come forward.
“Don’t feel ashamed about yourself. It’s the other person who should feel ashamed, and it does get better,” she said. “It may be dark right now but it eventually gets better.”
New allegations against Ferber from her time as a teacher 13 years ago were raised in court Wednesday before sentencing, but Crown and defence ultimately agreed they were not sexual or criminal in nature.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Kent Molgat
