Man who unlawfully confined Anita Vandenbeld spared jail


In a victim-impact statement filed in court, the Liberal MP detailed deep worry about her family after the ordeal on Oct. 29, 2020.

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The man convicted of unlawfully confining Anita Vandenbeld has been spared jail and banned from being anywhere near the Ottawa West-Nepean MP.

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Steven Potter will instead be on probation for leaving Vandenbeld in fear on Oct. 29, 2020.

In a victim-impact statement filed in court, the Liberal MP detailed deep worry about her family after the ordeal.

In 2020, Potter believed the Liberal Party of Canada was using red cars to track his every move. To prove his surveillance conspiracy, he started filming red cars he thought were tailing him.

The last reported time Potter did this was on Oct. 29, 2020. On that day, he spotted a red Prius, so he followed it to a condo parking lot. He then boxed in the Prius from behind with his own vehicle, got out and stood in front of the car only to film the terrified driver.

He didn’t recognize the driver of the Prius, who was so frightened that she asked a colleague — on the phone at the time — to call Ottawa police.

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He took off and was captured within minutes by quick-responding police.

It wasn’t until after his arrest that he learned the driver — of all people — was Vandenbeld.

Potter was convicted earlier this month and sentenced last week. Ontario Court Justice Norm Boxall gave him a suspended sentence, which means Potter can serve his criminal penalty on probation in the community.

After his conviction, Vandenbeld told this newspaper she was relieved about the verdict.

Vandenbeld is an expert in democracy and a longtime champion for women’s political rights around the the world.

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