SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A drug addict who roughed up and robbed a senior citizen of around $900 to feed his addiction was sentenced in NWT Supreme Court on Monday to 18 months in jail.

Aaron Kenneth Moran, 33, robbed 65-year-old Donald Hjelmeland while visiting the man's home at Ptarmingan Apartments on July 1, 2014 where he lived with a 26-year-old female roommate.

Crown prosecutor Jeannie Scott told the court prior to the robbery, Moran had asked Hjelmeland if he had any alcohol, to which Hjelmeland replied "no."

He then asked the victim for cigarettes and the roommate told Hjelmeland to get them from her bedroom. Moran followed Hjelmeland and pushed the older man onto a mattress and grabbed his wallet as they struggled.

During the incident, Hjelmeland suffered a sore right shoulder and bicep, a scrape on his forehead, a bruising of his hand from fighting back, and cuts to his toes.

Hjelmeland called police at 7:52 p.m. but Moran had already left the scene. He was found with the victim's roommate on 54 Street less than an hour later. He was carrying $350 in cash as well as a small, metal pipe used for smoking crack cocaine.

Scott said prior to his arrest, Moran had called the roommate on the phone to brag about how much money he had left after spending $300 to buy crack.

The prosecutor submitted six photographs showing the extent of Hjelmeland's injuries and his victim impact statement which he asked not to be read aloud in court, although the Crown did refer to it frequently.

Court heard that Moran, who pleaded guilty to the crime June 1, has an extensive criminal record with 22 previous convictions, including five property related offences involving theft, dating back to 2003.

Moran faces two years of probation following his sentence. He was also ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, even those prescribed by a physician, and is banned from owning firearms for 10 years, and must provide a DNA sample to the criminal data bank.

He told Justice Karan Shaner that he was sorry for the incident and felt bad about his behaviour.

"I would like to say that I am sorry for what I have done and I do feel bad," said Moran. "It bothers me to think that I have to go to jail for a year or two."

His lawyer Mike Martin said his client intends to seek treatment for his drug addiction while in jail.

Shaner told Moran she is concerned over his inability to follow court orders given his tendency to have breached them in the past.

"Mr. Moran, I did notice many, many convictions for breaking court orders in the past and it is really important that you comply," Shaner said. "Any time you don't understand please, please check with the probation officer.

Hjelmeland told Yellowknifer Wednesday that Moran's sentence is "probably not enough."

Since the incident, he said, he puts a dresser in front of his door and he doesn't feel safe.

"It still bothers me," said Hjelmeland, who still lives at Ptarmigan Apartments, adding he now drinks more and sleeps less since the incident.

"I'm glad I live on the second floor."

He is also wary when he walks downtown because he says Moran's friends hang out there and they know who he is.

Hjelmeland who has glasses, a long white beard, and long white hair, said his friends call him 'Santa.'

"Why would anyone rob and assault somebody who looks more like Santa than Santa does?" he said.

He says now he's just going to wait and see what happens.

"You kind of don't forget about it," said Hjelmeland.

• with files from Erin Steele

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