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INUVIK - A youth who committed a string of crimes, including a break-and-enter into a high school causing more than $30,000 in damage, was given two years probation on Thursday.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was deemed "an angry young man who poses a risk to himself and others," said Chief Judge Brian Bruser.

"This young person is nowhere near the point where he can be safely re-integrated into society."

The youth was convicted of a string of crimes including mischief and breaking and entering for a June 29 incident in which an entire wing of the school was damaged.

Crown prosecutor Maryse Nassar said graffiti had been spray painted on the walls "of obscene words and pictures" and a fire hose had been used to flood part of the building.

There was also damage to the school's belt sander, computers, phones, a smashed TV and windows. A fire extinguisher had been deployed in the music room and musical instruments were damaged as well.

Nassar said the school estimated the cost of the damage to be $33,850.

There was an additional break and enter that night into the Inuvik warehouse the youth also pleaded guilty to. Inside the building a computer and key board were sprayed with black paint and a vehicle on the property was sprayed with the word 'Bitch'.

The youth also pleaded guilty to a number of matters including two liquor offences in March and May of 2008, breaking into the Inuvik Housing Authority office and taking a vehicle on June 16, and stealing junk food from a warehouse belonging to Mac's Newsstand on June 18.

He also broke into the Mackenzie Hotel on Sept. 14 and was found with a backpack full of liquor belonging to the hotel; twice breaking his curfew imposed by the courts on Oct. 7 and Dec. 31; as well as running from police on Nov. 14. The youth has since spent 51 days in custody at the North Slave Young Offenders Facility.

"I'm sorry for all of this. It's just stupid the way I was acting," said the tearful youth.

"I'm not the same boy I was back then."

Bruser said he wanted to sentence the youth to custody but could not because he did not commit a violent crime and the Crown had proceeded by way of summary conviction.

"You were out to harm people, in some of these cases, as much as you could," said Bruser.

The youth was given two years probation under the supervision of a youth worker, a $100 fine and 200 hours of community service and a curfew of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

"I feel I have done a disservice to you today and to the public," said Bruser who said the youth would likely re-offend once released.