Nova Scotia·NewDuring sentencing, Judge Paul Scovil said Daryl and Shelley Digout had acted in a predatory manner, grooming the girl starting when she was about nine years old.Judge calls actions of husband and wife ‘predatory,’ saying the girl had been groomed since she was 9Tom Ayers · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 7:33 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoDaryl and Shelley Digout of rural Richmond County, N.S., are called into Port Hawkesbury provincial court for sentencing on Thursday after being found guilty of sexual assault of a young girl. (Tom Ayers/CBC)A Cape Breton husband and wife convicted of sex crimes against a preteen girl have been sentenced to five years in prison.That’s two years short of what the Nova Scotia Crown attorney was recommending and two years less than what the victim’s mother was hoping for.”I’m not a fan of the decision at all,” the woman said outside Port Hawkesbury provincial court on Thursday, moments after Daryl and Shelley Digout were taken away by sheriff’s officers. “They should have got the full seven years.”The woman’s identity can’t be revealed to protect the identity of the victim, who was about nine years old when she began staying over at the Digouts’ home in rural Richmond County for Bible studies.At trial earlier this year, court was told children often stayed with the Digouts and that the couple believed their religious faith required them to prepare young girls for motherhood.The victim told court that during one of her stays, Daryl Digout placed his hands on her chest and prayed for larger breasts to help her have babies.Couple initially denied chargesShe also said when she was 11 or 12, the Digouts enticed her to join them in sex.The couple initially denied the charges, claiming they were the victims of people who don’t share their religious beliefs, but they did not testify or present any evidence in court.Judge Paul Scovil convicted them in February, saying he had no trouble believing the girl.The Crown had called for a seven-year prison term, while the Digouts’ legal aid lawyer suggested four or five years would be appropriate.The couple was also found guilty of failing to appear for fingerprinting after going missing for about a month after being charged.Scovil gave them seven days on that charge, to be served at the same time as their five-year sentence.’Accused acted predatory’ — judge”The facts show that the accused acted in a predatory manner and groomed the victim to enable them to indulge in their own sexual gratification,” the judge said.Neither of them showed any emotion in court. Daryl Digout chose not to speak, while Shelley Digout quietly said a few words about how she was confident God was in her life.In a victim impact statement read in court, the now-teenage girl described how she had been hurt by the Digouts’ actions.She said she suffered from depression and began to self-harm.The Digouts were in Port Hawkesbury provincial court on Thursday for sentencing after being charged in 2023 with sex offences involving a youth who was in their care for Bible studies. (Tom Ayers/CBC)Her mother said the trial had been difficult for her and her daughter and they’re relieved it’s over and the Digouts are on their way to prison.”I’m happy they showed up today and I’m happy they’re behind bars, finally,” the woman said.”Now everyone can move on from it and hopefully others that need to come forward can feel safe to come forward.” She said her daughter is doing better now.”She is well on her way to recovery, but it’ll be something that stays with her her whole life and I wish I could have saved her from that.”Hope for healingThe woman took religious training from the Digouts when she was a young girl herself, but said she didn’t know what their faith might lead to.”You think you know people and you trust them and it’s not the case,” she said.”I’ve known them for so long that their behaviours had become normal to me. I just chalked it up to they were eccentric.”She hoped that a prison term and counselling would help the Digouts.”I’m hoping that their rehabilitation will be successful and that one day, maybe, I will be able to talk to them in hopes that the forgiveness will be there for them and me both so true healing can actually happen.”MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORTom Ayers has been a reporter and editor for 39 years. He has spent the last 21 covering Cape Breton and Nova Scotia stories. You can reach him at tom.ayers@cbc.ca.
Cape Breton couple given 5 years in prison for sexually assaulting preteen girl
