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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A man with 56 prior convictions, mostly for property-related crimes, has pleaded guilty to a rash of thefts and break and enters all within the span of one month last year.

Shane Elanik, originally from Sachs Harbour, is expected to be sentenced on Thursday in territorial court. On Monday, what the defence described as a "spree" of offences to feed a crack cocaine addiction were mapped out for the court.

The 35-year-old was first charged with stealing a grocery cart filled with meat at the Old Airport Road Extra Foods on Aug. 11, 2012. He was stopped outside the store and fled the scene. Elanik was also charged with failing to keep the peace, as ordered by the court for a previous unrelated crime.

On Aug. 21, Elanik stole a television set from Sears, which was not recovered, priced at $470. He also broke into a room at the Super 8 Motel. Two women were staying in the room but were out while Elanik opened their suitcase and threw their personal items around the room before leaving with a television set and a suitcase.

Elanik also pleaded guilty to breaking into Acme Analytical Labs Ltd. on Sept. 7, a break and enter at Staples on Sept. 10 and possession of a break-in instrument, which he used to attempt to open up the cash drawer at the Monkey Tree Gas Bar, also on Sept. 10. There was $85 of damage done at the gas bar.

At 5 p.m. on Sept. 10, Elanik entered Staples and hid among merchandise in a restricted area of the store for six hours until it closed. He then took four Toshiba laptops with a total value of $1,945 and which have not been recovered.

Elanik has pleaded guilty to an assault on a woman on June 25 of last year and a breach of probation last July 12 where he contacted the woman.

Crown prosecutor Duane Praught is asking the court for a three-year sentence to be served in jail for the nine convictions minus the 140 days served in pre-trial custody.

Defence lawyer Caroline Wawzonek said Elanik had a traumatic experience at residential school and promptly moved to Yellowknife in his early 20s where he developed an addiction to crack cocaine.

She said the list of break and enters and thefts are "spree offences" - repetitive, continuous acts so that the offender can obtain resources to feed an addiction. Wawzonek asked the court for a total of 15 months in custody. Wawzonek asked for credit to be given for the 140 days already spent in custody prior to sentencing at a ratio of 1 to 1.25, meaning Elanik would have served 175 days in custody. The defence is also asking that Elanik serve an additional nine months in custody.

Elanik, wearing a green T-shirt and sweatpants, stood before the court and read from a letter he wrote, apologizing to his victims, the court and the city of Yellowknife for his actions.

"I accept responsibility for my offences," he said.

"I'm getting too old to continue this lifestyle ... I need to work hard to make healthy lifestyle choices."

Judge Garth Malakoe will sentence Elanik on Thursday afternoon.

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