Yellowknife (Oct 15/03) - A 13-year-old Yellowknife boy will spend the next six months in a group home for his part in a summertime crime spree.

The boy pleaded guilty to six charges ranging from mischief to possession of a stolen vehicle in Youth Court last Thursday.

He was part of a group of teens who stole a car, vandalized trucks near the airport, broke into a store at the Panda Mall and ripped a video camera from the ceiling of an apartment building a all over the course of four weeks.

Its important to understand the impact of what you did, said Judge T.C. Smith, who also sentenced the boy to four months probation once his term in the group home ends.

Our society is based on respect for others. (You) didnt do that.

The boys lawyer, Graham Watt, said his client suffers from a severe marijuana addiction and began drinking when he was 10-years-old.

He needs help, said Watt.

The 13-year-old has five previous convictions on his record, including three for break and enter. He has been placed on probation twice and spent several months in a group home last year.

Rehabilitation in the community isnt working very well, said Crown prosecutor Paul Falvo, who suggested the boy be sent to a jail for young offenders.

But Smith didnt agree.

We shouldnt give up on (him).

The judge also rejected Falvos request that the boy pay over $7,000 restitution to the victims of his crimes.

Its not foreseeable that he could pay the money, said Smith.

According to an agreed statement of facts, the 13-year-old was part of a three-week spree that resulted in close to $10,000 in damages.

In late July, the boy and several of his friends ripped a video camera from the ceiling on the Ravenscourt Apartment and removed the lens.

About two weeks later, he hurled a rock through the window of a truck parked across from Kingland Ford.

Then on Aug. 17, the police caught the 13-year-old and three of his friends in a stolen car, which was weaving its way down 49th Street. When police stopped the car, they noticed the boy a who wasnt driving a was drunk.

The boy capped a busy month of lawlessness on Aug. 20th when Panda Mall video cameras spotted him breaking into the ice cream parlour a three times.

He stole a stereo and a tray of pastries.