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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man who pushed his girlfriend and took her car without consent avoided a jail sentence on Feb. 6, because deputy judge Heino Lilles said he was "moved and impressed" by the man's efforts to rehabilitate after years of crack cocaine addiction.

The 28-year-old man was in territorial court to face sentencing for an assault that took place on Nov. 24, 2007.

Crown prosecutor Danielle Vaillancourt said on that night RCMP were alerted to a disturbance at a downtown residence.

He "pushed (her) twice. Once up onto the bed and once on the face," said Vaillancourt.

The man took his girlfriend's car after she told him not to and also took her cell phone before leaving. The woman told him by phone that she had alerted police and he said he would drop off her car at a location where she could pick it up.

RCMP located him on Old Airport Road, where he was arrested.

Vaillancourt said the man was on probation at the time.

In addition to pleading guilty to assault, he also entered guilty pleas to a breach of probation for not checking in with a probation officer on Dec. 18, 2007 and failing to attend court on Jan. 29, 2008.

Defence attorney Kelly Payne said the man had had an addiction to crack cocaine, but has been drug-free for more than a year.

"He does want to close the door on that part of his life," she said.

"I'm more interested and more impressed with his recent efforts to deal with this problem," said Lilles.

The judge said the man has a criminal record but added it was not "lengthy."

Lilles handed down a conditional three-month sentence which includes a curfew. He is allowed out of his home only between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., he must report to a probation officer and he is not to consume any alcohol or intoxicants.

"Keep up the good work. Good luck. Put all this stuff behind you," Lilles told the man.