A woman who alleges her former employer sexually assaulted her took the stand Monday to describe unwanted advances and touching that she says began as early as her job interview.
Kyle Mostowy, 56, faces one count of sexual assault against the woman, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, for incidents in 2014.
She had just moved back to Victoria after time abroad when she found a job listing on Used Victoria for labourers, drywallers and tapers, the woman testified Monday at the start of Mostowy’s jury trial in B.C. Supreme Court.
She had years of experience in the construction industry and was urgently looking for work so she could move out of her ex-boyfriend’s rental home and rent her own apartment, she said.
The woman called the number in the ad and faxed her resume. About a week later, Mostowy called and invited her for an interview at his Langford home office, she testified.
During the interview, Mostowy asked if she was single, commented on the size of her breasts and told her she was “too pretty” for construction, she said.
She didn’t respond to his comments, indicating her discomfort with her facial expressions, she testified.
Later during the interview, Mostowy came behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, saying she looked tense. He massaged her shoulders and down her front to the top of her chest, she testified.
She accepted the job offer and accompanied Mostowy to a job site in Victoria, where she said he pulled her from behind by her braid, and squeezed her breasts.
She testified she went because she needed the work and she thought Mostowy might stop touching her at the job site.
The woman testified the unwanted touching continued after that day, however, including an incident in which Mostowy slapped her on the buttocks while she was working on her knees. When she jumped up in surprise, he tried to grab her crotch over her jeans, she said.
“And I said: ‘Look, I’m getting sick of this. Stop. I need you to stop now. I told you.’ And then I got really mad, so I just went, I left,” she testified.
At another point, she received an evening call from Mostowy, who said he was angry about her work and demanded she go to the job site with him, she said.
Mostowy picked her up at her home and drove her to the site, where he pointed out work he was dissatisfied with, but it was the work of others, the woman testified.
She said she was worried about going alone with Mostowy to the site and told her ex-boyfriend where she would be and to come to the site if she didn’t return quickly.
“Why did you go with him?” Crown prosecutor Jeni Gillings asked.
“Because I wanted to get paid. Because if there’s so much trouble with my work, he might hold back my pay, which I was looking so forward to, so I could secure an apartment,” the woman responded.
The woman’s testimony continues in the trial, which is scheduled to last two weeks.
