SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Video of a prolonged and merciless assault on a semi-conscious man in the Yellowknife RCMP detachment drunk tank was shown in territorial court on Wednesday just before the attacker was sentenced to 600 days in jail.

David Harrison, 25, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm, breaching court conditions, and obstructing justice.

"A cynic might say that a guilty plea is being entered today simply because the accused has been caught on video," said Judge Robert Gorin before sentencing Harrison.

"But I give (the guilty plea) full weight," he said, indicating that it has saved the court resources and saved the victim and witnesses from having to testify.

On April 27, RCMP picked up Harrison drunkenly walking down Franklin Avenue between Winks and the Multiplex, breaking bottles on the road with a friend.

The friend was co-operative with police, but Harrison's temper escalated immediately - he swore at the Mounties, threatening to fight them, and called them "pigs."

When asked for his name, Harrison gave a false identity, complete with name, address and phone number, and said he was from Gjoa Haven. It was not until the next day, after the assault, that his true identity was discovered - police brought a picture of him to the Salvation Army and someone recognized him.

The approximately four-minute long video shown in court began when Harrison was carried into the drunk tank by three officers, two holding his arms and one holding his leg, and laid him on the floor. Lying down with his back facing Harrison was another man who was semi-conscious and unaware of the violent beating about to come his way.

The man in the video could be seen turning to look at Harrison as he was brought in, and then turning away again.

Harrison sat for a moment, then got up, walked over to the man, walked to the door, then walked back to the man and without pause stomped on his head for what appeared to be three times. The victim rolled over onto his back. Harrison then appeared to stomp on the man's head four more times, then Harrison sat down.

He kicked the man several more times before the police intervened.

"He's my bitch now," he told the RCMP officers and bragged about how he beat him.

From the video, it appeared that about a third of the floor was covered in streaks of blood, one of which was about three to four feet long, according to the agreed statement of facts submitted in court.

The victim was taken to the hospital where he was kept overnight and then released the following day. He suffered no lasting injuries but walked away with a swollen face and two cuts that required stitches.

"This is a vicious, senseless act of extreme cruelty and violence," said Crown prosecutor Glen Boyd. "Mr. Harrison prefers to exercise his machismo ... on an unconscious individual laying on a concrete floor."

Harrison has six previous assault charges on his criminal record.

Defence lawyer Jay Bran said the two men knew each other and had a history. As well, he said Harrison suffers from fetal alcohol effects, which he said causes his quick temper.

Bran said rehabilitation should be an important aspect of his client's sentence. He also said Harrison does not recall much of the night's events due to being blackout drunk.

Gorin gave Harrison 600 days in jail, minus 6 months and 11 days served in custody awaiting sentencing, which amounts to 409 days Harrison had yet to serve.

He is to be given any available counselling for anger management, and alcohol and substance abuse.

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