The sentence has been handed down in the sexual abuse case of a former B.C. top doctor.

Albert de Villiers, the former Interior Health chief medical officer, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison June 13 in a Grande Prairie, Alta., courtroom after being convicted of sexual interference of a child and sexual assault.

The sentence was handed down the day after Justice Shaina Leonard heard the victim impact statements and received submissions from both prosecutor Amy Pickrell and defence counsel Amy Lind.

The child de Villiers was convicted of abusing was between seven and nine years old when the incidents occurred. According to victim impact statements heard in court on June 12, they left the child with physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.

The incidents occurred between 2018 and 2020 while De Villiers was the lead medical health officer for Alberta鈥檚 Northern Zone, prior to his move to 琉璃神社 to take on the role with Interior Health.

More to come.