Hay River (Sep 20/04) - A Hay River man has been sentenced to five years in jail for offences he committed to feed his crack cocaine habit.

Wade Dean Gray, 37, pleaded guilty in June and was sentenced Sept. 13 in NWT Supreme Court.

He received two years for break, enter and theft, and three years for attempted armed robbery.

Court was told Gray had been smoking crack cocaine on the night of the offences.

At about 1 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2003, he broke through the door of the Migrator Motel, took a cash register and fled. The theft netted him $80, which he used to buy crack.

Once the drug was smoked, he attempted to rob The Rooster convenience store at about 3 a.m., armed with a large kitchen knife and disguised by a toque pulled over his face. After confronting the counter person, he grabbed the cash register.

However, the store employee got a pizza knife and chased Gray away, slightly cutting his arm in the process and making him drop the cash register.

Gray was arrested later that morning by police.

Justice John Vertes noted that, based on a pre-sentence report, drug dependency has had a strong hold over Gray's life for many years.

Vertes said he had no alternative but to impose a lengthy prison sentence to protect the residents of Hay River from Gray and to protect Gray from himself, particularly because of his lengthy criminal record.

The judge said it appears Gray is incapable of controlling his behaviour.

"Ultimately, it is up to you to get control of your life," Vertes told Gray.

In comments to the judge prior to sentencing, Gray expressed regret for his actions.

"I accept full responsibility for what I've done," he said.

Gray said he believes he could beat his cocaine addiction with more treatment.