P. Sherman

The offender pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud under $5,000 after holding himself out as a licensed paralegal and accepting funds from two victims for legal services he was not qualified to provide.

The court found the offences involved a serious breach of trust that undermined public confidence in the administration of justice.

Given the offender's prior convictions for similar conduct and the high risk of re-offending, the court rejected a conditional sentence and imposed a 6-month custodial sentence followed by 18 months of probation and full restitution.

Sentencing following convictions for two robberies and related offences including breach of a weapons prohibition order.

The offender robbed a pharmacy and a convenience store, threatening the pharmacy technician by claiming to have a gun and openly carrying an expandable baton during the second robbery.

The offences were committed while the offender was bound by both a probation order and a weapons prohibition order, and he possessed a stolen vehicle used in the robberies.

The court emphasized denunciation and deterrence given the offender’s lengthy criminal record and escalating violent conduct.

Accepting a joint submission, the court imposed a global sentence of five years’ imprisonment with credit for pre-trial custody, resulting in 35 months to be served, along with a lifetime weapons prohibition and a DNA order.