Halifax airport abductor faces offender label

A Halifax man may be declared a long-term offender for abducting a woman at the airport and later trying to force her into the trunk of her car.

Ross Nelson Garland, 52, pleaded guilty to forcible confinement and robbery Monday as his trial was set to begin, the Chronicle Herald reported.

The court ordered Garland to undergo an assessment to determine whether he should be classified as a long-term offender, which means he would be supervised for up to 10 years after serving his prison term.

On Sept. 16, 2009, Garland forced his way into a woman's car at the parking garage at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

In an interview with CBC News days later, Dorette Pronk said the man told her he had a gun and ordered her to drive to Truro. Along the way he made her stop to withdraw money from several bank machines.

About two hours later, he told her to stop the car and get out. She screamed and ran away when he tried to get her into the trunk. She ran to a home and called police.

Garland was arrested in Moncton the next day.

He had 11 prior criminal convictions for such things as fraud, theft, aggravated assault, escaping lawful custody and impaired driving.

Garland is due back in Dartmouth provincial court on July 27 following his 60-day assessment.