Shannen (Shay) Lee Clegg will spend the next 26 months in a federal penitentiary for a shocking knife attack against a woman caught on surveillance video. The chilling incident happened on Nov. 14 2017 in Bowser's commercial core. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

shocking crime

Man sentenced to 3 years in prison for ‘inexplicable’ violent attack on woman in Bowser

Oct 11, 2019 | 10:08 AM

NANAIMO — A shocking, unprovoked knife attack by a man against a woman in Bowser resulted in a 3-year prison sentence.

Shannen (Shay) Lee Clegg, 24, will serve a little over 26 months in a federal penitentiary following credit for time already served for attacking an acquaintance on Nov. 14, 2017 in the parking lot of Tomm’s Food Village.

“This was an egregious, extremely violent offence, it was unprovoked, potentially life-threatening, inexplicable, and devastating for the victim and her family,” Judge Justine Saunders said while reading aloud her verdict on Friday, Oct. 11 in Nanaimo.

The victim, whose identity is protected, suffered potentially life-threatening injuries after Clegg stabbed her 12 times, which was captured on surveillance video.

She underwent numerous surgeries as a result.

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Clegg was also issued a 10-year firearms ban.

Supporters of Clegg and the victim were in court as sheriffs put handcuffs on Clegg and escorted him from the court room.

Court was told a then 22-year-old Clegg was extremely drunk when he showed up at the victim’s door on the morning of the attack. She rejected his advances and decided it was best to give Clegg a ride home.

Clegg unexpectedly began stabbing the victim while she was driving and chased her to the grocery store parking lot.

Surveillance footage captured Clegg, who put a batman mask on, stabbing the victim multiple times.

He stopped the attack and went home where he reported the crime to his girlfriend and a 911 dispatcher.

Clegg pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, setting the stage for a sentencing hearing which revealed the disturbing and unusual case.

A motive behind the attack wasn’t made clear.

Clegg told a clinical counsellor he believed anger built up from a difficult childhood played a role in his actions.

The Kwalikum Secondary graduate believed medication he used could have also factored into his behaviour.

Judge Saunders said Clegg displayed limited insight into his behaviour.

“Without answers to these questions it is difficult for the court to determine whether he’s likely to re-offend.”

A pre-sentence report categorized Clegg as a moderate risk to re-offend.

A psychiatric assessment delved into Clegg’s unstable childhood, marred with abandonment, poverty, mental illness and normalization of addiction

Clegg had spent the previous 14-and-a-half months receiving treatment at a facility near Logan Lake B.C.

Clegg had no criminal history prior to the shocking incident.

Sentences for aggravated assault range between 16-months and six years in prison.

The crown and defence both lobbied for roughly two years of new jail time.

Clegg was credited for nearly 300 days already served in jail.

His sentencing hearing concluded on Wednesday, Oct. 10 after beginning in June.

Editors note: Our original story reported Clegg will serve 28 additional months in jail when in fact it’s 26.2 months.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes