A man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced Wednesday to time served and one year probation with a condition he attend residential treatment for a late-night "street mugging."
Jayden Raphael Robert John, 21, was high on methamphetamine and had not slept in a week when, shortly after 11 p.m. on May 18, 2022, he came up from behind a woman as she was walking home along Carney Street, put an arm around her chest and demanded she hand over her purse.
She refused and yelled at him and, in response, John released her and said he was sorry but kept following her. Once she reached the corner of Carney and Massey Drive, she hailed a passing RCMP cruiser. John was tracked down and arrested.
John possesses an extensive criminal record made up largely of property offences and breaches of court orders. Barely a week before committing the crime, he had been released from custody to serve one year probation for theft $5,000 or under and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
However, he had remained in custody since the latest arrest - a total of 287 days - never once seeking bail. Two months after the incident, he pleaded guilty to a count of robbery and expressed sincere remorse for his actions.
John also made productive use of his time while in custody, Provincial Court Judge Judith Doulis noted, and recited a list of courses completed and certificates achieved.
Doulis outlined a tragic upbringing for the member of the Tl'azt'en Nation and found he became "ensnared in street-level drug culture" at a young age. John did not lack maturity so much as guidance and direction and showed a strong prospect for rehabilitation, the judge found.
No weapon was used and no item was actually stolen, Doulis also noted.
