Graham James appeared thin during Tuesday's court appearance. He showed no emotion when a judge agreed to release him. (Tom Andrich/CBC)

Convicted sex offender and former junior hockey coach Graham James has been granted bail as he fights nine sex-related charges in Manitoba, but he won't walk out of jail until at least Dec. 17.

Provincial court Judge Rocky Pollack agreed Tuesday afternoon to release James after a hearing in a Winnipeg courtroom.

The Crown and James's lawyer, Evan Roitenberg, agreed to postpone his release until they settle on conditions the court should place on his pre-trial freedom. The bail hearing will reconvene Dec. 17, when Pollack will sign off on those conditions.

'We look to the justice system for leadership and there was none provided today.'—Theoren Fleury

Prosecutors had argued to keep James in custody.

The 58-year-old James has been in custody since Oct. 27, when officers of the Winnipeg Police Service met him at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

He was then escorted to Winnipeg, where he was arrested. He has been held in the Winnipeg Remand Centre ever since.

James is facing nine sex-related charges over a 15-year period, from 1979 until the mid-1990s.

The charges relate to complaints of sexual exploitation, sexual assault and gross indecency involving three boys.

Alleged victim 'not surprised'

One of the three named complainants is Theoren Fleury, now 42 and a former NHL star. James recruited Fleury, then 13, from his minor hockey team in Russell, Man., to play junior in Winnipeg.

The other two James is accused of assaulting can't be named because of a publication ban.

Speaking from Edmonton Tuesday, Fleury was clearly disappointed at the outcome of the bail hearing, but said he was "not surprised."

"We look to the justice system for leadership and there was none provided today," Fleury said, adding that granting James bail "doesn't protect our children."

He suggested people call their MPs to complain about James's upcoming release.