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Maria Carlos pleaded guilty to theft, taking a motor vehicle without consent, obstructing a police officer and attempted obstruction.
Her lawyer Jim Brydon said Carlos behaviour is driven by addiction to cocaine.
The last 10 years of her life have been a car wreck in slow motion, he told Judge Brian Bruser.
She is married to cocaine.
Judge Bruser told her you have many bad habits and a bad marriage. It is time to divorce yourself from your marriage to cocaine before your life divorces you.
On Sept. 25 last year, Carlos stole a carving from someone she was visiting, said Crown Counsel Terri Nguyen.
Then on Dec. 1, she took a car from someone else and left a note saying she would bring it back in 30 minutes. Police found the car downtown with someone else driving it.
Last Feb. 13, police received a complaint that a van lent to Carlos was overdue.
Carlos was stopped in the van by police as she turned into a downtown alley. When police asked to see her licence, she admitted to not having one a and said her name was Maria Mantla.
When the officer radioed the detachment to ask for a description of Carlos, she admitted her true identity.
On June 19, the same police officer spotted Carlos driving a car. She again gave a false name, but after being read her rights admitted her real name.
Brydon said Carlos was doing well until she hit Grade 9 and became involved in the seedier side of Yellowknife. She borrows and steals things to support her expensive habit, he said.
Brydon said Carlos could have applied for bail but chose to remain in jail for 50 days while awaiting trial so she could dry out.
He said Carlos also suffers from health problems which will probably shorten her life to some degree.
Carlos is also charged with possession of cocaine. She has pleaded not guilty. The trial is set for Oct. 1.
