Singer Headley sexually assaulted: her life is ‘shattered beyond recognition’

An Ontario woman who was sexually assaulted by ex-Headley singer Jacob Hoggard said Thursday that her life was “shattered beyond recognition”.

The woman, whose identity cannot be revealed due to the publication ban, spoke at the singer’s sentencing hearing, CTV News reported Thursday.

“Before November 22, 2016, I was a different person. She said I wasn’t the same after that day. A part of me died that day and I’ll never find it. My life as I knew it was stolen from me and shattered beyond recognition. The assault took away my value.” And my intimacy, my body, my confidence, and my voice.”

As a reminder, in June, Jacob Hoggard was convicted of sexual assault causing bodily harm in this case.

In her statement, the Ottawa woman explained that she chose to appear in court without the support of anyone close to her because she “couldn’t bear to see them suffer more than they already did.”

The woman went on to say, “The months following the attack were her darkest and lonely days [sa] life”.

“I walked away from everything I loved,” she said. You have lost important job opportunities at work. I missed important moments with my loved ones that I will never find again. I think this is what hurts me the most. I broke up with everyone I loved. Isolation was sometimes unbearable.”

The sentencing hearing for the attacker took an unexpected turn Thursday morning as his attorney raised issues with evidence in a forensic psychiatry report naming some of his sexual partners.

A follow-up hearing is scheduled for October 14 starting at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Mr. Hoggard will have the opportunity to speak at that time.