B.C. man gets 14 years for beating prostitute

VANCOUVER — Michael Leopold was sentenced Friday to a 14-year prison term for aggravated assault against a prostitute.

Told psychiatrist he planned to kidnap, torture and kill prostitutes The judge said the public needed protection from Leopold, but he declined to put the man behind bars indefinitely as a "dangerous offender".

Leopold gained national attention when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled a psychiatrist could reveal what Leopold had told him. Leopold had told the psychiatrist he was going to torture and kill prostitutes.

Leopold, 38, hired the prostitute and assaulted her in 1996.

He told the psychiatrist, Dr. Roy O'Shaughnessy, that the assault was just a "trial run."

The defence lawyer had suggested a sentence of no more than two years, arguing the judge must distinguish between a man's threats and actual crime.