Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man was given 23 months in jail on Monday for the May 6 robbery of the Winks Convenience store.

Scott Banks, 28, used a kitchen knife to rob the store during the early morning hours of his 28th birthday.

It was "hardly a celebration for the convenience store clerk," said Judge Brian Bruser. Banks is an admitted crack cocaine addict and in court was described by Bruser as having "a very heavy addiction" costing him as much as $1,000 a day.

Banks had made off with between $50 to $100 in cash in what defence attorney Pat Cashman had described as a poorly-thought-out crime.

"This is obvious," said Bruser after hearing that Banks did not wear a disguise to rob a store he knew had surveillance cameras in it.

Cashman asked for a maximum of one year in prison, arguing that Banks was cooperative with RCMP and turned himself into police the following day. The Crown prosecutor had asked for two-and-a-half years in jail for the offence.

Banks spoke briefly to say he was remorseful for his crime and that he will use his time in jail to "become a better man."

During sentencing Bruser noted Banks' lengthy criminal record, which included uttering threats, property offences and unlawful confinement, with crimes taking place in the NWT as well as Nova Scotia and Quebec.

"Wherever you go the baggage carrying your personal demons goes with you," said Bruser. "You are no stranger, sir, to a life of crime."

Banks was given 20 months in jail for the robbery and an additional three months for not meeting terms of his release. He was given a credit of four months for time already served and will be on probation for three years after he gets out of jail.