A coked-out Indo-Canadian man from Burnaby was jailed four years for shooting a sex worker at his home while his wife and kids slept. Burnaby’s Varinder Singh Deo, 45, was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Nov. 30 for shooting a 25-year-old woman in May 2021. 

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

BURNABY – A coked-out Indo-Canadian man from Burnaby was jailed four years for shooting a sex worker at his home while his wife and kids slept.

Burnaby’s Varinder Singh Deo, 45, was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Nov. 30 for shooting a 25-year-old woman in May 2021. 

Drunk, high on cocaine, and armed with a loaded handgun, Deo was celebrating his birthday with a friend in the detached garage of his Boundary Road home in the early morning hours of May 2, 2021, when he decided to go online and order an escort, reported Burnaby Now newspaper.

Two escorts arrived, and an argument ensued.

The women walked away after Deo lifted his shirt to reveal the pistol tucked in his waistband.

But when they were about 20 feet away with their backs turned, he pointed the gun at them and fired two shots, hitting one of the women in the left rear shoulder.

All the while, his wife and children were asleep in the house.

“Mr. Deo’s conduct in committing these offences was senseless, extremely reckless, selfish,” said B.C. Supreme Court Justice Heather Holmes during sentencing last Thursday. “It could easily have had fatal effect though it did not.”

Deo pleaded guilty in May to two charges related to the incident: aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent.

Both offences come with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

While there were a laundry-list of things that were wrong with Deo’s actions that night, Judge Holmes noted that a “very significant” point in Deo’s favour was his guilty plea.

She also noted he only had one prior, unrelated conviction (for refusing to provide a breath sample); he had had no issues abiding by restrictive bail conditions; and he has strong family support.

Deo developed a “serious” cocaine problem when he was 21 but has been abstinent for a “significant period,” according to Holmes.

She said she accepts he is truly committed to steps he’s taken to stay sober.

A psychiatrist’s report had concluded Deo is at a “low risk” to re-offend if he abstains from alcohol and cocaine.  

Holmes sentenced Deo to four years in prison, minus 30 days credit for time served in pre-sentence custody.

“In my view, in the particular circumstances, a sentence of four years imprisonment will sufficiently denounced the conduct and deter others in similar circumstances while also leaving open the prospect of Mr. Deo eventually rejoining the community as a contributing member,” Holmes said.

She also handed Deo a 10-year firearms ban and ordered him to provide a DNA sample and pay one of the escorts $7,732.46 – the amount charged by the car rental company for removing blood stains from the rented car.