IQALUIT - A judge has sentenced Eetooloo Ejetsiak to two years in a federal penitentiary for a recently-committed assault so he can receive treatment to deal with his "tragic past."

"A penitentiary term affords him the best chance of receiving help he so desperately needs," said Justice Terrence O'Connor via telephone on May 27.

Ejetsiak was sentenced to two years in prison for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose after an altercation with a friend.

The court heard, on May 20 during submissions, how Ejetsiak, 41, hit one of his friends two or three times with a metal bar resulting in a broken arm. The friend had stolen his iPod, magazines and some other possessions from his home.

Crown lawyer Doug Garson said Ejetsiak has had 38 prior criminal convictions - including a number of sexual assaults - since 1988.

"He is the worst offender and his record is horrendous," Garson said.

He asked for a three-year sentence.

Defense lawyer Andrew Mahar, during his submission, said Ejetsiak is one of few people in the territory who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mahar said his client had been abused by former teacher and convicted pedophile Edward Horne.

Ejetsiak's mother and brother were murdered, and when he was 23, Ejetsiak's spouse shot herself with their child present.

"At times he was desperate to move south, he even tried to change his name to distance himself from his past," Mahar said.

"He is a product of the worst this territory has ever offered anybody."

Mahar described his client as a powerful and capable man, and said when Ejetsiak has been out of custody he has managed to find work.

Ejetsiak requested not to serve his sentence in Nunavut.

O'Connor said he agreed with this.

"As poorly as he does outside, he is more dangerous inside and shipping him down to one of those warehouses in Ontario can't be worse than (Baffin Correction Centre)."

On May 27, Mahar and O'Connor were not present in person but participated via telephone.

O'Connor also handed down a 10-year firearms prohibition but said Ejetsiak can apply for a special permit for sustenance hunting or employment.

He said he would make a request that Ejetsiak serve his time at the Fenbrook Institution, a medium-security federal penitentiary in Gravenhurst, Ont. In addition, he was going to recommend Ejetsiak be admitted into the Tupiq program for Inuit sexual offenders at Fenbrook.

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