by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 19/97) - A man who moved to Yellowknife from Rankin Inlet in December to visit his mother has been fined for stealing tools from Canadian Tire.

Territorial court judge Michel Bourassa fined the 38-year-old man, who has been in the North for 10 years, $300 for theft not exceeding $1,000.

"Your mother would shed a tear today to hear about her son, drunk as you were, stealing from the Canadian Tire," said Bourassa.

The man has a short and unrelated criminal record. He admitted that he was so drunk during the Dec. 7 theft, he barely remembers his actions.

Crown lawyer Sandra Aitken told court that a store customer noticed the man stuffing tools into his pockets and alerted a clerk, who ordered him off the premises.

A short time later, the same customer was approached by the man in the Centre Square Mall, where he tried to sell the customer all of the tools -- which he still had in his pockets -- for $50.

When the customer refused to buy them, the man continued to pester him until a security guard was summoned and police called.

Court heard the man is trying to raise enough money to move himself and his wife back to Rankin Inlet.