SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Lloyd Thrasher says he's learned from his time spent in jail.

The lessons include not to take vigilante action, not to harm animals, not to fight and that the law is there to protect him and others.

Lloyd Thrasher, shown being led out of the Yellowknife courthouse in handcuffs in 2011, was free to go Friday after serving time awaiting sentencing on charges of theft and breaching conditions. - NNSL file photo

The 28-year-old, originally from Inuvik, spoke about those lessons in NWT territorial court Friday as he was sentenced on charges of theft and breaching conditions dating to May 27 this year.

"I am tired of seeing myself as a criminal, I am tired of seeing myself in jail, I have learned a lot of good things while incarcerated," Thrasher said, reading from a prepared statement that also asked for forgiveness from the judge and his victims.

Judge Christine Gagnon sentenced him to time served - which was 85 days - on the charges. After filling out paperwork, he was free.

Thrasher, a promising musician, gained notoriety in 2011 when he stabbed and killed a small dog he stole from a parked car.

Facing break and enter charges, he disappeared for three years before returning this spring to deal with the outstanding cases and serve time in jail.

After he was released, a woman was "accosted" in front of Dorset Apartments downtown May 27, according to an agreed statement of facts read by Crown prosecutor Ryan Clements.

Thrasher demanded she empty her pockets and open her purse. A CIBC bank card and cell phone were taken, a theft Clements said was witnessed by five people, one who described Thrasher as "way agitated and out of it."

Clements said Thrasher believed the woman had a RBC bank card belonging to his step-father and linked to a bank account with money his mother had received as part of a residential school settlement.

The woman remains

shaken by what happened, Clements said. Thrasher, reading his statement to the judge, said he thought he was helping his family and "acting the way I thought was right. Obviously it was not the right thing to do."

Portions of medical records provided to the judge by defence lawyer Tu Pham indicate a "tentative opinion" that Thrasher has an autism spectrum disorder.

That opinion, while not a formal diagnosis, helps explain some of Thrasher's behaviour, including making him seem more aggressive than he intends, the lawyer said.

Pham said there's a strong indication Thrasher can succeed in life and highlighted that he's developed a 128-page music business plan that includes further education.

While the Crown prosecutor sought three additional days in jail for Thrasher, Pham told the judge he should be able to walk free given the steps he's taken to seek help and plan for his future.

Those steps include counselling and seeing a psychologist.

"I am ready to move on from the justice system and move on with my life," Thrasher said.

A last minute attempt by Thrasher to get a publication ban on information presented at the sentencing hearing was quashed by the judge.

Such bans are standard for much earlier court proceedings to limit the spread of information before trial or for the names of victims of sexual assault.

Gagnon pointed out the governing principle of the court system is that justice must be seen to be done.

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