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A Nova Scotia man has been given an 18-month jail sentence for sexual assault after he poked holes in his girlfriend's condoms and had intercourse with her.

Justice Richard Coughlan handed down the sentence to Craig Hutchinson at Nova Scotia Supreme Court on Friday.

Judge Coughlan said the 41-year-old's pre-meditated actions in piercing the condoms and his breach of trust with the woman were aggravating factors in the case.

"Incarceration is the only suitable way to express society's condemnation of Mr. Hutchinson's conduct," Judge Coughlan said.

The Clyde River, N.S., man was convicted in September but found not guilty of aggravated sexual assault.

At the time, Judge Coughlan said the woman only consented to sex on the understanding intact condoms were being used, and that Mr. Hutchinson knew she didn't want to have a baby.

The woman became pregnant and had an abortion in the fall of 2006, and later suffered an infection of her uterus, which was treated with antibiotics.

Judge Coughlan found that Mr. Hutchinson sabotaged the condoms and aimed to have a baby with the woman, who cannot be identified under a court-ordered publication ban.

The Crown sought a two-year prison sentence for Mr. Hutchinson, arguing that he did not take responsibility for what happened.

But Crown lawyer Kim McOnie said she's satisfied with Judge Coughlan's decision.

"Certainly the Crown is pleased with today's decision," she said outside court. "Justice Coughlan considered all of the relevant factors."

Citing a pre-sentence report during her arguments Friday, Ms. McOnie said when asked if he had any remorse, Mr. Hutchinson responded "Not at all."

Defence lawyer Patrick MacEwen told the court that Mr. Hutchinson exhibited no violence and should have received a two-year suspended sentence followed by probation.

"As far as sexual assault cases are concerned, this is at the low end of the scale," he said.

Judge Coughlan disagreed.

"A suspended sentence would be totally inadequate given the facts present here," the judges said.

In a previous trial for the same offence, Hutchinson was found not guilty of aggravated sexual assault. But that 2009 decision was overturned by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, which ordered a new trial.

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