Sexual offender says he's sorry

The Surrey man who has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in the Fraser Valley has apologized to his victim's family.

The Crown has asked for a sentence of up to 17 years for Brian Edward Abrosimo. (CBC)

Abrosimo was at the wheel of his van when he ran down two girls an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old in the summer of 2004.

The 15-year-old ended up in the ditch with a broken wrist. Abrosimo pulled the 11-year-old into the van and sexually assaulted her before letting her go.

Defence lawyer David Karp is asking for a sentence of five to eight years, with double credit for the nearly two years that Abrosimo has already served since his arrest.

If the judge agrees, Abrosimo could be out of jail in about a year.

• FROM APRIL 21, 2006: Throw the book at sex offender, says Crown

The Crown is seeking a 15- to 17-year sentence, and wants the judge to classify Abrosimo a "long-term offender" which would see him monitored for 10 years after getting out of jail.

Karp said his client is not the "worst of the worst offender" despite previous convictions for sexually assaulting two adult women.

However, Surrey provincial court Judge Suzanne MacGregor made it clear she feels Karp is minimizing Abrosimo's criminal record, and she questioned whether 15 to 17 years was too light a sentence.

Sentencing has been set for mid-June.