Warning: This article contains descriptions of intimate partner violence. Convicted abuser Lauriston Maloney will not be serving any more time behind bars after being handed a suspended sentence of 90 days time served. The 45-year-old was convicted in June of assaulting a woman who claimed Maloney and his wife Amber labour trafficked her over several years while she lived with and worked for the couple. The woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, came forward three years ago alleging Maloney and his wife exploited her financially. RELATED: Ont. couple acquitted of human trafficking Justice Philop John Brissette acquitted the Maloneys of their labour trafficking charges following about a dozen trial dates over a two-year span, ruling the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the couple caused the woman to fear for her safety if she didn’t work for them. The woman told the court she was often paid very little or nothing at all despite being available to the Maloneys at all hours, helping them around the house by cooking, making drinks, cleaning, and caring for their children. RELATED: ‘She wasn’t allowed to leave’: Former Maloney employee testifies in labour trafficking trial The woman said she worked for Amber’s now-defunct, unlicensed camp for children on the autism spectrum, called Beating the Odds, located on their two-acre property in Essa Township, while having no qualifications to do so. RELATED: Human trafficking trial for Essa Township couple resumes with cross-examination of complainant She testified she only stuck around because she loved Amber, whom she had met online years earlier then began a relationship with both Amber and Lauriston. The court heard the relationship became toxic and violent, fueled by alcohol and jealousy when the Maloneys sought to bring more women into the bedroom. The complainant testified she became upset and felt excluded - forced to compete for the Maloneys’ favour and attention, eventually leaving the relationship when a fifth person was added. RELATED: ‘We were all in a relationship’: Woman testifies against Maloneys in human trafficking trial Justice Brissette found it was during this time that Maloney assaulted the complainant on two occasions, when he chased and squeezed her while pouring a water bottle over her head, then throwing the bottle and yelling at her. Another assault involved Maloney losing his temper and pulling the woman by her hair and striking her several times. RELATED: ‘You can’t be lazy on my watch,’ Court hears audio recordings in trial of alleged traffickers During trial, the complainant rejected suggestions by the defence that she only came forward to police out of revenge against the Maloneys when their relationship ended on bad terms. Lauriston was represented by Anthony Bryant, while Elliott Willschick served as defence counsel for Amber Maloney during the proceedings. The complainant testified she came forward to police in 2023 because she was afraid of Lauriston when the Maloneys were threatening to report her for fraud. RELATED: Convicted sexual offender speaks out after OPP issues rare public advisory Amber Maloney is still accused separately of fraud and failing to comply with bail conditions. Those allegations have not been tested in court. Her charges of forcible confinement and administering a noxious substance were dropped earlier in the trial. While delivering her victim impact statement to the court, the complainant said Lauriston demanded obedience and servitude using verbal and emotional abuse. She told the court Maloney made her body feel like property. “I became the version of myself he wanted me to be.” RELATED: Human trafficking probe at autism camp leaves Ont. community shaken Justice Brissette accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence crediting Maloney with 90 days of pre-sentence considering 33 days spent in jail and more than three years under strict conditions that included a GPS ankle monitor. Lauriston Maloney now has 20 criminal convictions on his record. He was previously convicted of pimping out underage girls 22 years ago in Mississauga. Maloney said the girls lied about their age when they worked for his escort agency. As part of his sentence, Maloney has been placed on probation for three years and is not to communicate with or be anywhere near the complainant.
