Brampton man sentenced for kidnapping, attempted kidnapping 2 women 2 days apart

Brampton Man Sentenced for Kidnapping, Attempted Kidnapping 2 Women 2 Days Apart

A Brampton man who kidnapped a woman in May 2021 and then attempted to kidnap another woman two days later — after being arrested and released with conditions in the first case — has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison. Superior Court Justice James Stribopoulos handed down the sentence after Diavion Henningham pleaded guilty to kidnapping and attempted kidnapping on Sept. 26, 2025, on the eve of his trial following an unsuccessful motion for a stay of proceedings.

Tags: Brampton, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, Mississauga, North York, Superior Court, sentencing, public safety, Diavion Henningham, James Stribopoulos

The First Attack: A Ride Offered, Then a Violent Ordeal

According to an agreed statement of facts, the first incident occurred on May 21, 2021, when Henningham, then 22, approached a woman walking near the intersection of Hurontario Street and Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga while she was speaking on her phone. Henningham asked to borrow the phone, claiming he was experiencing issues with his own device. She agreed, and while he appeared to be using it, he walked toward a vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby shopping plaza.

As they spoke, Henningham offered her a ride to Square One shopping centre. The woman accepted and entered the vehicle. When she realized he was driving in the opposite direction, she questioned him. Henningham claimed he first had to go to a friend’s house. He still had her cellphone. When she tried to retrieve it, Henningham pushed her away and struck her repeatedly, including punching her in the face.

“Fearing for her safety, she opened the passenger door while the vehicle was moving and tried to escape, screaming for help. Mr. Henningham prevented her from doing so by pulling the door shut and striking her again. Another motorist saw her trying to get out of the moving vehicle with her feet dragging along the roadway and called 911,” the judge said.

Approximately 11 kilometres from where they had started, Henningham finally stopped the vehicle, yelled at her to “just get out,” and drove away after she exited. The vehicle was registered to Henningham’s stepfather. He was arrested the following day. He admitted giving the woman a ride and claimed she assaulted him before he was released on an undertaking with conditions.

The Second Attack: A Brazen Attempt Two Days Later

Despite his arrest, on May 23, 2021, Henningham approached another woman in a North York shopping plaza near Finch Avenue West and Pearldale Avenue. Again, he asked to use the woman’s cellphone and she agreed. As he appeared to make a phone call, she followed him and Henningham took a seat in the back of a vehicle. He asked whether she wanted a ride home, and she declined.

“Mr. Henningham grabbed her by the arm and attempted to pull her into the vehicle, before repeatedly telling her to get in. She screamed and fought back. When she managed to get a few feet away, Mr. Henningham wrapped his arms around her and attempted to pull her back towards the vehicle. During the struggle, he punched her three or four times on her left side,” Stribopoulos said.

Court heard a passerby noticed the commotion and called 911, while another person took a photograph of the apparent assault. Stribopoulos said Henningham ultimately succeeded in pulling the woman head-first into the vehicle, at which point a passerby intervened, allowing her to escape. Henningham was arrested on May 24, 2021, and granted bail on the attempted kidnapping charge with strict conditions under the supervision of his sureties.

The Victims’ Ongoing Trauma

The judge said both women continue to suffer psychological effects from the attacks. The first woman said in a victim impact statement that she feared for her life during the ordeal and, because of it, “now sees the world as more ugly.” The second woman told the court she lives in a constant state of fear and has required therapy.

These statements underscore the lasting harm of such offences, which extend well beyond the physical violence endured. The court heard that both victims were simply going about their daily routines when they were targeted, and their sense of safety in public spaces has been profoundly shaken.

The Sentencing Decision: Crown and Defence Positions

Henningham, who had no criminal record and was 22 at the time of the offences, told a forensic psychologist that he was depressed and socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The psychologist concluded Henningham’s mental health began to deteriorate in his late teens and worsened during the pandemic. He also began using cannabis heavily. Henningham told the psychologist he was simply trying to meet women. She assessed him as posing a low risk of reoffending.

The Crown sought a five-year prison sentence, while the defence argued that a 12-month conditional sentence followed by 12 months of probation would be appropriate. Stribopoulos found it aggravating that the attempted kidnapping occurred two days after the kidnapping and one day after Henningham had been charged and released on an undertaking.

“Kidnapping and attempted kidnapping require sentences that denounce this conduct. The victims were women and vulnerable because they were alone. Women and children are entitled to move about their communities without fear of being abducted by strangers,” the judge said.

Canadian Context: Sentencing Principles and Public Safety

This case raises important questions about bail conditions and the supervision of accused persons awaiting trial. Henningham was released on an undertaking following his first arrest, yet he allegedly committed a similar offence within days. While the court ultimately imposed a sentence of 2½ years, the sequence of events highlights the challenges faced by the justice system in balancing an accused person’s liberty interests with public safety concerns.

In Canadian law, sentencing is guided by the principles of denunciation, deterrence, and rehabilitation, as set out in the Criminal Code. For offences involving violence against vulnerable victims, courts have consistently emphasized the need for sentences that reflect society’s condemnation of such conduct. The judge’s remarks in this case align with that approach, underscoring that women and children must be able to move freely in their communities without fear.

The fact that Henningham had no prior criminal record and was assessed as a low risk of reoffending factored into the sentence, but the aggravating circumstances — including the timing of the second offence — clearly weighed heavily in the court’s decision. The Crown’s request for five years and the defence’s proposal for a conditional sentence bookended the range, and the judge’s decision of 2½ years reflects a middle ground that accounts for both the seriousness of the offences and the offender’s personal circumstances.

What Happens Next

With the sentence imposed, Henningham will serve 2½ years in a correctional facility. In Canada, sentences of two years or more are generally served in federal penitentiaries, while shorter sentences are served in provincial institutions. Given the length of this sentence, the placement will fall under federal jurisdiction, though the exact designation will be determined by correctional authorities.

Henningham will also be subject to conditions upon his release, including potential supervision and restrictions aimed at reducing the risk of reoffending. The victims, meanwhile, continue to cope with the psychological aftermath of their ordeals, and the court’s decision offers some measure of closure, though the trauma described in their impact statements will likely persist.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in public spaces and the critical role that bystanders can play in intervening during emergencies. In both incidents, members of the public called 911 or stepped in to assist, actions that likely prevented more serious outcomes. Their efforts were acknowledged in the court proceedings and underscore the value of community awareness and responsiveness.

By Alex Thompson, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.