CTV News has learned Ben Johnson has hired a new lawyer to launch an appeal of his sexual assault conviction.

The 22-year-old has started serving a three-year prison term, handed down Tuesday in a Windsor court.

James Lockyer is a lawyer from Toronto. He also happens to be the founding director of the Association In Defence of the Wrongly Convicted.

Windsor lawyer Patrick Ducharme tells CTV Windsor Lockyer will be handling Johnson's appeal, just as the family of Johnson's victim tries to put their lives back together.

“My daughter can really begin to heal,” said the victim’s mom, who can’t be identified.

Her daughter, who is now 19, is a victim of sexual assault by Johnson, the former Windsor Spitfire who is now in jail.

“I’m thinking this is now in the rear view mirror, now we can move on as a family,” says the mother.

On St. Patricks' day 2013, the victim was sexually assaulted by Johnson in the bathroom at the former Mynt Nightclub in downtown Windsor.

Earlier this week she told the court "(I) was stripped of my dignity. Consent was not an option. The defendant deprived me of my choice to remain a virgin."

Her mother says the trauma is a hard enough to heal, but adds the "victim shaming" makes it worse.

“Questioning her actions on the night of the incident, what she wore, what she said,” she says.

Dusty Johnstone, sexual misconduct, response and prevention officer at the University of Windsor has spent the last five years educating students and faculty about sexual violence prevention.

“Regardless whether or not the name is released, there are people who know who this is and are talking about her,” says Johnstone.

She confirms healing is hampered by the drawn-out court process.

“It’s very difficult when people have to relive an experience, that just reinforces those synapsis of memories and it makes it very difficult for people to move on,” says Johnstone.

CTV News reached out to James Lockyer, who did confirm that he has been retained by Ben Johnson to handle his appeal. Lockyer says he plans to file the appeal in the next few days.