A former Montreal police officer convicted of attacking eight young women should serve eight years and be declared a long-term offender, a Quebec Crown prosecutor says.

Isabelle Briand made the comments during sentencing arguments in the case of Benoît Guay, 36.

Benoît Guay has pleaded guilty to a series of rapes in 2004-05.
(Radio-Canada archives)

Guay, who appeared during the hearing, had previously pleaded guilty to 13 charges related to a series of rapes — the victims were between ages 15 and 20 — in Montreal's northern district and outlying communities in 2004 and 2005.

The former police officer originally faced 22 counts, including aggravated assault, sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering death threats.

Guay has expressed regret in court and sought psychotherapy at his own expense, but the Crown asked the court Thursday that he be declared a long-term offender, which would mean he'd remain under surveillance for a decade after his sentence is served.

He lost his job as a police officer when he pleaded guilty to reduced charges last March. He has been behind bars since his arrest in January 2006.

Guay was accused of stalking his young victims, whom he cornered in isolated areas late at night and sexually assaulted at knife or gunpoint.

He'll return to court June 12 for his sentencing.