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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man was sentenced to 315 days in jail and banned from driving for four years last week, after he pleaded guilty to four charges, including two drunk driving offences.

RCMP patrollers found Cameron Unka, 23, passed out behind the wheel of a black pickup truck on Sept. 10, 2008. The truck was running and blocking an alleyway in the downtown area, said Crown prosecutor Mike Himmelman on May 22.

The police officers attempted to wake Unka by knocking on the windows, shaking the truck and turning on emergency sirens.

"But Mr. Unka was not roused by any of this," said Himmelman.

Officers were finally able to wake Unka after a towing company arrived and opened the vehicle. He was taken into custody and found to have nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

On Feb. 5, 2009 Unka was again arrested for driving while intoxicated when an RCMP officer discovered Unka parked at the intersection of 49 Street and 54 Avenue. His vehicle matched the description of a car that had been reported to police earlier that night as possibly being driven by an impaired driver.

Unka exited the truck and denied to the officer he had been driving.

He "displayed signs of impairment," said Himmelman.

The driver was taken to the RCMP station where he "was at one point throwing his clothing items around while he was being asked to remove them," said Himmelman.

At one point an officer had to physically restrain Unka as he was not following instructions. Unka submitted to a breath sample and was found to have three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Unka also pleaded guilty to one count of mischief for an incident when he entered The Chocolatier early on April 9, before the store had opened.

"He would not leave despite being asked five times to do so," said Himmelman.

Additionally, he pleaded guilty to breaching court conditions stemming from an incident in which RCMP found Unka in the Gold Range bar intoxicated on May 17. He had been ordered by the court to abstain from alcohol consumption while his legal matters were pending. Unka had been in jail awaiting his day in court since that time.

"That was his birthday," said defence attorney Dan Rideout of the May 17 offence.

Unka had previously been convicted twice of drunk driving-related offences in 2004 and 2005. Rideout said Unka had difficulties with alcohol and hard drugs and "has essentially spiralled out of control."

Unka spoke to the court, breaking down at one point. He thanked his family for supporting him and said he had a good life, but began drinking and that's when his criminal behaviour started.

Judge Robert Gorin included two years of probation in the sentence.