Greg Campbell, P.E.I. vice-principal, to be sentenced for harassment

Lawyers exchanged heated words Wednesday at the sentencing hearing of a Charlottetown school vice-principal who has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal harassment, for following and communicating with a woman from whomhe'd been ordered to stay away.

GregoryDwight Campbell, 51, who was a vice-principal at Stonepark Intermediate at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty in January after emotional testimony from his victim, who cannot be identified because of a court order.

Campbell is currently on leave fromhis job, the Department of Education told CBC News.

The first day of the hearing ended with some dramatic evidence.

An audio recording of a profanity-laced voice mail message left by Campbell was played for the court, a man who used to teach a course to teenagers about healthy relationships.

Campbell sat silently in court while his defence lawyer locked horns with Crown prosecutor Valerie Moore.

One of the issuesin the two-day sentencing hearing is the admissibility of evidence from two potential witnesses. The Crown wants those voices heard, while the defense does not.

Defence lawyer Peter Ghiz countered that he'd been "taken by surprise" by the Crown's proposal, and had not had time to prepare.

"That's not fair," Moore told the judge. "He knew months ago."

Moore said the testimony of her witnesses would provide important information as Provincial Court Judge John Douglas weighs the penalty he will impose on Campbell.

Harassment history

The court heard that Campbell repeatedly texted the victim, followed her by car, and appeared at her home at odd hours.

He was charged in July 2015 and ordered to have no contact with the woman. He was arrested again last fall after allegedly breaching that order.

Transcripts of dozens of text messages and voicemails between Campbell and the victim been been submitted as evidence.

There's been no suggestion that students were harmed or at risk as a result of Campbell's actions.

But Campbell's victim has testified she felt threatened and afraid.

The maximum penalty he faces is six months in jail. The sentencing hearing resumes Friday.