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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 16-year-old Yellowknife youth, convicted of 11 criminal charges, was sentenced Monday to one year of custody and a supervision order.

Four of the charges related to a night of mayhem after the teen stole a pick-up truck Aug. 13, the boy's 16th birthday.

Ron Wlowich and Debra Saftner stand in front of their home a day after it was damaged by a 16-year-old Yellowknife youth. The youth was sentenced for dangerous driving and other charges relating to the Aug. 13 incident. - NNSL File Photo

The teen was placed on probation for a prior offence only two days before he took the truck and went rampaging through city streets. On Aug. 12, he breached the conditions of his probation by not obeying his curfew. It's not clear whether or not he was taken into custody but he was free the next day. The youth cannot be named by law.

"(This is) one of the more serious cases I've had to deal with in a long, long time," said Judge Brian Bruser. "You did a huge amount of damage."

He said it was "astonishing" that no one was killed during the incident.

The court heard the youth was highly intoxicated when he took a pick-up truck with the keys left inside. He then drove through Yellowknife and damaged two residences. He went over a curb and into the fence of a home, causing $1,250 worth of damage.

The youth then continued to drive in a manner Bruser described as "dangerous stunting" at a high rate of speed. He knocked over a 20-foot tree at another Yellowknife home belonging to Ron Wlowich and Debra Saftner.

The two residents attempted to stop the youth from leaving the scene. The boy swore at them and fled the area. He hid in some bushes and then ran after the RCMP arrived. The police eventually caught him with the help of a police dog. The youth received six stitches from a cut sustained when he was apprehended by the dog.

"That was the end of your birthday celebrations," said Bruser.

"The people that live in that neighbourhood have had a sense of safety stolen from them," said Crown prosecutor Maryse Nassar. "The community just seems to be the worse for it."

The charges from the Aug. 13 incident include dangerous driving, two charges of mischief and one breach of probation.

He was also sentenced for one charge of assault causing bodily harm, which occurred on June 21. The youth led a group of people in the swarming and beating of a person in the city. The victim suffered swelling, bruising, lacerations and a minor head injury.

"He did nothing to provoke this," Bruser said of the victim.

In addition to the criminal charges, the youth was also sentenced to pay four tickets he was issued for offences including operating a vehicle without a valid licence or registration.

Bruser said he believes the youth, who has been held in custody for nearly three months, is likely to re-offend.

In addition to one-year custody and a supervision order, the youth will also be prohibited from driving for two years, prohibited from possessing a firearm for two years, must comply with a DNA order and will be on one year's probation after his release.