Brampton man sentenced for kidnapping, attempted kidnapping 2 women 2 days apart

A Brampton man who kidnapped a woman in May 2021 and then attempted to kidnap another woman two days later, after being arrested and released with conditions in the first case, has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison.

Superior Court Justice James Stribopoulos said Diavion Henningham targeted two women who were alone in public places and exploited their willingness to help him through deception. Stribopoulos said that when the women didn’t comply, he assaulted them, leaving each woman fearing for her life.

Court heard Henningham pleaded guilty to kidnapping and attempted kidnapping on Sept. 26, 2025, on the eve of his trial after an unsuccessful motion for a stay of proceedings.

According to an agreed statement of facts, the first incident occurred on May 21, 2021, when Henningham, then 22, approached a woman walking near the intersection of Hurontario Street and Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga while she was speaking on her phone.

Henningham asked to borrow the phone, claiming he was experiencing issues with his own device. She agreed, and while he appeared to be using it, he walked toward a vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby shopping plaza.

As they spoke, Henningham offered her a ride to Square One shopping centre. The woman accepted and entered the vehicle. When she realized he was driving in the opposite direction, she questioned him. Henningham claimed he first had to go to a friend’s house.

He still had her cellphone. When she tried to retrieve it, Henningham pushed her away and struck her repeatedly, including punching her in the face.

“Fearing for her safety, she opened the passenger door while the vehicle was moving and tried to escape, screaming for help. Mr. Henningham prevented her from doing so by pulling the door shut and striking her again. Another motorist saw her trying to get out of the moving vehicle with her feet dragging along the roadway and called 911,” the judge said.

Approximately 11 kilometres from where they had started, Henningham finally stopped the vehicle, yelled at her to “just get out,” and drove away after she exited.

The vehicle was registered to Henningham’s stepfather. He was arrested the following day. He admitted giving the woman a ride and claimed she assaulted him before he was released on an undertaking with conditions.

Despite his arrest, on May 23, 2021, Henningham approached another woman in a North York shopping plaza near Finch Avenue West and Pearldale Avenue.

Again, he asked to use the woman’s cellphone and she agreed. As he appeared to make a phone call, she followed him and Henningham took a seat in the back of a vehicle. He asked whether she wanted a ride home, and she declined.

“Mr. Henningham grabbed her by the arm and attempted to pull her into the vehicle, before repeatedly telling her to get in. She screamed and fought back. When she managed to get a few feet away, Mr. Henningham wrapped his arms around her and attempted to pull her back towards the vehicle.