SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Fresh off a five-year prison term for 21 break-and-enters, a Yellowknife man was found by police on the top floor of a local business early one August morning after forcing his way in through the back door.

Eric Wardell was sentenced to 12 months in jail after pleading guilty to breaking and entering with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Police were called to Charles Jeffrey Chartered Accountants on Old Airport Road on Aug. 18 at 2:34 a.m. The back door showed signs of forced entry, and RCMP members guarded all exits while officers went inside. They found Wardell, 42, on the top floor with his hands stretched out in front of him. He told the police "I will go peacefully," and he did. There was no damage inside and nothing was stolen.

"It's not a pretty picture, your honour, I admit it," Wardell told territorial court on Nov. 18. "I'm mad at myself. I'm not proud of what I've done ... I'm not one bit proud."

Serge Petitpas, Wardell's lawyer, told the court he has long-standing issues with alcoholism, which has led to problems with cocaine, crack, and heroin. He has a history of break-and-enters and thefts - 57 convictions for property-related crimes, nine of which were for the same charge he was facing that day - and this was because he was financing his addiction through stolen goods.

Since he was arrested on Aug. 18, about two months after his June 12 release from prison, Wardell has involved himself in programs at the North Slave Correctional Centre centred around dealing with addictions, according to Petitpas. He said Wardell would like to attend a full-time rehabilitation program in the future.

Petitpas and Crown prosecutor Jeannie Wynne-Edwards proposed a joint submission of 12 months in jail for Wardell, which Judge Brian Bruser then imposed.

Bruser told Wardell he hopes the man can get past his addictions.

"You're 42 but you can still do this," said Bruser. "Forty-two's not old."

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