SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man with just under 90 previous convictions and a history of breaking court conditions was back before a judge on Wednesday facing two charges of theft and one of breaking a court condition not to drink.

Lawrence Blackduck, 43, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for each charge, a total of 90 days.

Judge Robert Gorin told Blackduck he couldn't put too much weight on his laundry list of previous convictions, which include 11 for theft-related crimes, as he'd already been punished for those by the judicial system.

"The most important sentencing principle is that of proportionality," said Gorin.

Police were called to the laundromat on Old Airport Road on Oct. 13 to check on complaints of a drunk man harassing customers. By the time they got there the man had left, but he was located exiting Staples.

As police arrested him they found two watches in his pockets, still fully packaged and without a receipt. The police later identified these to have been stolen from Extra Foods.

Then, two days later, Blackduck was caught on camera grabbing a jacket that belonged to a man doing construction work on the Green-stone building, which he then stashed under a set of stairs. He was arrested later that day with the jacket in his possession.

Then, on Nov. 2 he was arrested by police after they saw him stumbling down Franklin Avenue. He wander-ed onto the street and was almost hit several times by vehicles. He had been on a court condition not to drink or possess alcohol.

Alcohol, according to Blackduck's lawyer Paul Falvo, seems to be the root of his problems.

"Everyone is fighting a battle, and Mr. Blackduck's is with alcohol," said Falvo.

He said his client has gone to some counselling sessions recently but was still battling the addiction.

Gorin said he believed Blackduck could triumph over his alcoholism if he were to put all of his energy towards it, and if he took the counselling seriously.

"I really can't give a great deal of weight to your re-habilitation but I believe it is possible," said Gorin.

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