The 35-year-old man's destructive behaviour began Sept. 14 when he was arrested by police for driving while intoxicated on the Ingraham Trail.

The man drove into the passenger side of a parked car and nearly hit a pedestrian before being apprehended by police. His wife and two children, ages three and five, were in the vehicle.

A breathalyser test showed the man had four times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.

Then on Oct. 25 the man called police from a neighbour's home, complaining that his wife had assaulted him.

When police arrived at his wife's residence, they found the front door of the home barred shut with furniture. She informed them it was he who had attacked her.

The court heard the man arrived home intoxicated and a heated argument ensued when his wife learned he had spent an entire insurance cheque on alcohol. The money was supposed to be used to support the family.

The man began pushing and shoving his wife and then punched her in the face. He was arrested for assault and ordered to stay away from his wife and children upon release.

But on Oct. 9 the man disobeyed the terms of his release by visiting the home of his spouse.

The court heard the man's wife has since filed for divorce.

He pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while impaired, operating a vehicle with too much alcohol in his blood, assault, possession of marijuana and breaching his undertaking in territorial court Nov. 29.

Judge Brian Bruser condemned the man for endangering the lives of his wife and children.

He said the driving offence was one of the worst of its kind.

"You are dragging your wife and children along in your alcoholic wake."

The man was sentenced to a two-month jail term, lost his licence for two years and will be placed on two years probation following his release.