Man sentenced to 4 years for shooting sex worker in B.C. news

A man from B.C.’s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after a violent incident involving a sex worker during his drug-fuelled 43rd birthday celebration.

Varinder Singh Deo was celebrating his birthday in the garage of his Burnaby home in May 2021 when the incident occurred. According to a B.C. Supreme Court decision, Deo was drinking and consuming cocaine with a friend while his wife and children were sleeping in the house.

Deo invited an escort to his garage, but a quarrel ensued when he accused her of looking different from her online advertisement. The situation escalated when Deo flashed a handgun and opened fire as the escort and another woman were walking back to their car. One of the bullets struck the woman in her shoulder, causing serious physical and emotional injuries.

The court heard that Deo had a history of substance abuse and had relapsed into cocaine use after being clean for 12 years. He obtained a gun illegally to protect himself after a previous traumatic incident with an escort.

Despite several aggravating factors in the case, including Deo’s reckless behavior and attempts to conceal evidence, the court credited him for pleading guilty, seeking treatment for his substance abuse issues, and expressing genuine remorse. A doctor assessed Deo as being at a low risk of re-offending if he remains sober.

In addition to his four-year sentence, Deo was ordered to pay restitution to cover the cost of cleaning blood stains from the victim’s car. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the consequences of drug-fuelled violence and the importance of seeking help for substance abuse issues.