A Vancouver man who committed a spree of thefts in Metro Vancouver communities did so in order to pay his drug dealer, a Vancouver provincial court judge heard at sentencing Sept. 29.
The thefts Michael Leonard Nelson, 57, pleaded guilty to on Thursday include:
- taking $2,400 in merchandise from a Delta Real Canadian Superstore March 29;
- stealing $970 in products from a Coquitlam Real Canadian Superstore April 17;
- taking 35 boxes of Tylenol valued at $1,100 from a Richmond London Drugs May 11;
- theft of $900 worth of beauty products from a Richmond London Drugs;
- a June 15 theft from a North Vancouver London Drugs which included an assault;
- taking $500 of whisky from a BC Liquor Store June 30;
- removing beauty products from a University Endowment Lands Shoppers Drug Aug. 4, and;
- stealing $1,300 worth of clothes from a Lululemon outlet Aug. 18.
Crown prosecutor Jeff LaPorte suggested a sentence of 45 days for the guilty pleas. As Nelson had spent 22 days in custody, he receives 33 days credit, leaving 12 days to be served in jail.
“The issue that caused these crimes is substance abuse,” the judge said.
The court heard Nelson had been sober for some time but relapsed after getting into a bad relationship.
Conditions of the sentence means Nelson cannot go to Winners, Save-On-Foods, Real Canadian Superstore, London Drugs, Shoppers Drugs and BC Liquor Stores.
