by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 06/96) - A 40-year-old former heroin trafficker convicted Tuesday of illegally possessing the prescription drug Demerol says he's going home to the west coast.

Neil Martin Banks, a B.C. man visiting Yellowknife, told territorial court Judge Thomas Davis he's leaving the territories as soon as he can.

"Good. I don't have to worry about you being around here or your activities around the Gold Range, do I?" replied Davis.

Davis sentenced the man to one day in jail and handed him an $800 fine after the man pleaded guilty to possessing about $35 worth of the painkillers.

Crown lawyer Sandra Aitken told the court Banks has a criminal record that includes a 1994 heroin trafficking conviction for which he served six months in jail and a 1981 narcotics trafficking conviction that resulted in a $2,000 fine.

She suggested an appropriate sentence would be a substantial fine and one day in jail.

Banks, who represented himself, said he was in a lot of pain Oct. 17, when he bought the drugs and was subsequently arrested at the Gold Range by RCMP.

"I have been prescribed many different pills in the past," said Banks.

He told Davis he was "coming into an inheritance" and would need at least 90 days to pay a large fine.

Davis allowed the man four months to pay the fine and warned him that even the smallest further drug conviction in the territories may result in a lengthy jail sentence.