James Sears, also known as “Dimitri the Lover.” (Toronto Sun files)
TORONTO -
Sex guru, disgraced doctor, newsletter publisher — James Sears has a history of making headlines.
Sears, who is also known as “Dimitri the Lover,” has penned a controversial newspaper that has offended some Toronto postal workers.
But in a 2008 profile written by Toronto Sun reporter Jenny Yuen, Sears was focused on other endeavours, namely helping socially awkward men find sex partners.
At the time, Sears charged $40 to attend one of his weekday meetings, $269 for an annual membership to his “seduction lair” and as much as $2,997 plus tax for a two-day workshop advertised on his website, dimitrithelover.com, where he advertised that “Dimitri The Lover creates a powerful identity for you that women will find irresistible.”
Sears told the Sun at the time that he wasn’t in the business for the cash.
“Men pay me thousands of dollars just to spend a day watching me seduce women and I make loads of money in my full-time business, so money’s not an issue,” he said.
Sears was stripped of his medical licence in 1992 for sexual impropriety after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault.
However, he later appealed the sexual assault charges, defended himself and was acquitted, subsequently stating his lawyers had “pressured” him into pleading guilty at the initial hearing.
Sears turned to politics in recent years, running in last fall’s municipal election in Ward 32. He received 800 votes, but was beaten by incumbent Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon. He’s now planning to run as an independent candidate in the federal election expected in October.
McMahon, hearing about this latest controversy involving Sears, said she has been the subject of frequent attacks in the newsletter. Prior to this, it was circulated through the community by carriers, not in the mail.
“That is appalling,” McMahon said of Canada Post agreeing to distribute the flyer. “That’s where I draw the line. Usually they get some unknowing kid to deliver it. This is beyond the pale that Canada Post is agreeing to deliver this.”
McMahon said her office receives complaints about the newspaper regularly. She’s reached out to Canada Post to ask about their policy regarding distributing the material.
“I’ve never wanted to give him an ounce of my time, energy or any publicity,” she said.
Sex guru, disgraced doctor, newsletter publisher — James Sears has a history of making headlines.
Sears, who is also known as “Dimitri the Lover,” has penned a controversial newspaper that has offended some Toronto postal workers.
But in a 2008 profile written by Toronto Sun reporter Jenny Yuen, Sears was focused on other endeavours, namely helping socially awkward men find sex partners.
At the time, Sears charged $40 to attend one of his weekday meetings, $269 for an annual membership to his “seduction lair” and as much as $2,997 plus tax for a two-day workshop advertised on his website, dimitrithelover.com, where he advertised that “Dimitri The Lover creates a powerful identity for you that women will find irresistible.”
Sears told the Sun at the time that he wasn’t in the business for the cash.
