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BRANTFORD – When he assaulted the first woman and was accused of assaulting a second woman, the community didn’t know.

But a recent victim of an elderly local man convicted of assault last December wants people to know both her name and the name of her attacker: Sardul S. Multani.

“The community deserves to know, to protect themselves,” said Brantford realtor Tiffany Nelson, noting she is not Multani’s first victim.

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Nelson returned to court after her case was over to make a point. Under new legislation that came into force at the time of Multani’s conviction, victims, witnesses and court participants can speak directly to prosecutors and judges if they want a publication ban, rather than having it automatically imposed.

Nelson had to jump through a few hoops, but with the assistance of a victim support worker, an assistant Crown attorney and a sympathetic judge, she is now legally allowed to speak her own name — and that of her attacker — in the story.

“With the law changing, I knew I had to make a point to create a new avenue for future victims to make their voices heard,” she said. “I was scared for the public and I’m still adamant about the community deserving to know.”

On August 11, 2022, Nelson and Multani met at a house that Nelson was showing. He offered to show her and a customer through his similar unit.

Multani grabbed Nelson’s arm several times, she said in an interview. It made her uncomfortable, but the realtor also volunteers with a senior transportation program, so she was inclined to pass it up.

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Nelson says Multani grabbed her after the customer left, pulling her in for several hugs and then tried to drag her back into his home.

“I thought about punching him in the face, but he’s 78,” she said.

She says she was able to break away, saying it was like being in a high school wrestling match again.

A few days later, Multani was charged with sexual assault, but that charge was eventually reduced to assault.

Nelson told the court in a victim impact statement that she never imagined she would be assaulted by a senior.

“I never thought I would have to fight to get rid of a nearly 80-year-old man who was grabbing my body,” she said.

Multani’s lawyer characterized his client’s behavior as “grabbing the victim’s wrist” at the end of a “mutual embrace” between them. “He grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the house harder than it should have been. It was a short incident with no injuries, although it was inappropriate.”

The defense attorney asked for a six-month community sentence with three months of house arrest and one year of probation, saying a longer period of probation would prevent the senior from being able to visit his family in India.

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He argued for a three-month house arrest because Multani’s previous attack was more serious, including “groping”, so he should receive a shorter sentence for “much less aggravating behaviour”.

Multani was charged with sexual assault in 2021 for two separate incidents that occurred days apart in July 2021.

In April 2022, one count was dismissed and he was allowed to plead to the lesser charge of assault in relation to the other. He was sentenced to house arrest and placed on probation for one year.

Judge Gethin Edward pointed out that Multani had not admitted guilt this time – a judicial sign of remorse – and a pre-sentence report on Multani noted that he saw no proper limits or insight into his bad behaviour.

The judge considered whether a longer probation period would give him more time for counseling to understand these things.

Assistant Crown attorney Jeff Mazin said the case was difficult for him to review.

“I was thinking of asking for a short, severe prison sentence,” Mazin said, noting that Multani was still on probation for the earlier attack when he attacked Nelson.

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The judge agreed it would be a “big ask” to send a language-challenged man approaching 80 to Maplehurst, where even capable youngsters find it difficult.

But Mazin said Multani should be placed on three years’ probation because his attack used “significant force” and had a “significant impact” on his victim.

Nelson told the court in his victim impact statement that he enjoyed meeting new people and visiting their homes.

“Now I feel like I’m getting ready to be attacked again,” she said.

A busy volunteer, Nelson has traded her involvement in several programs so she doesn’t have to be alone with men.

Sentencing Multani, Edward said: “People have a right to go about their business without being grabbed or pawed or touched inappropriately. Plain and simple.”

The judge handed down a six-month community sentence but said Multani would be under house arrest for the duration. He also placed him on two years’ probation with an order to provide DNA and receive counseling.

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“Mr. Multani, you must learn to respect and understand people’s boundaries. This is an integral part of what we value in our society,” the judge said.

Nelson said she understood the punishment, leaving Multani “virtually locked up” for six months, but allowed her to go shopping on Saturdays and go to the temple on Sundays.

“But,” she said, “I don’t think this man deserves privacy in his later years.”

With the new amendment to the Criminal Code saying victims must be specifically included when it comes to discussions about publication bans meant to protect them, Nelson returned to court to ask Edward to lift the ban on her case which protect his name.

After questioning her closely, the judge agreed.

“If I was just the first (victim), that’s one thing,” she said. “But . . . I want to be the last. I want to make it known.”

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