(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A Vernon man who drove a vehicle into two police cruisers while fleeing the RCMP will spend another four months behind bars after being sentenced today Jan. 13, to a multitude of charges, largely driving offences.

Appearing at the Vernon courthouse by video from custody, Christopher Robert Hubley pled guilty to nine of more than 20 charges, including driving while disqualified, as well as a variety of breaches and theft of a motor vehicle.

The court heard how the 34-year-old was largely homeless, in "extreme poverty" and was living in cars although he had been banned from driving or sitting in the driving seat of a vehicle.

The court heard about several events spanning from March to September 2019 where Hubley had either been seen driving or caught asleep in vehicles by the RCMP.

On one occasion Sept. 1, 2019, the RCMP found Hubley asleep in the driving seat of a vehicle and used two police cruisers to block him in. The court heard Hubley woke up, started the car and reversed into a cruiser. He then put the car in drive and hit the cruiser parked in front of him, before managing to drive away. Police deemed it too dangerous to follow him. The incident was the second time police decided not to follow him in a vehicle, deciding the situation was too dangerous.

On two separate occasions, Hubley had been seen asleep in a vehicle in a Walmart parking lot and caught on surveillance camera driving out of the store. On another occasion, Hubley's fingerprints were found in a stolen vehicle.

Defence lawyer Nicholas Jacob told the court Hubley had left school with a Grade 8 education - although had since completed his Grade 12 education. As a child, he moved repetitively and had been sexually abused by his father. He started using cocaine and crack at age 16 and by 27 years old was using heroin and meth. Jacob said his lengthy criminal record revolved around his struggles with addiction.

Crown lawyer Brock Bellrichard asked for a sentence of 605 days jail time, which after time served would see Hubley spend another 13 months in prison. The defence requested 345 days, which would translate to just over four months more behind bars.

Judge Richard Hewson asked Hubley if he anything to say before sentencing.

"At this point, you can't get yourself in much more trouble," the judge said.

"There are many different types of people who come in front of the court, one judge used the shorthand term of 'the mad, the bad, and the sad,'" Hewson said. "Some of the people that come in front of the court are sad, they've had an upbringing that has put them behind the eight ball from the start and they've never been able to get out from behind it with that upbringing."

Judge Hewson said Hubley fell into this category.

"I think the sentence that I impose today should be helping him pursue his rehabilitation rather than using him as an example to others by imposing a lengthy sentence," Judge Hewson said.

Hubley was ultimately sentenced to 345 days prison time, which with credit for time already served, will see him stay behind bars for roughly another four and a half months. Hubley also received two years of probation and another three-year driving ban as well as having to complete counselling courses. The remaining outstanding charges were stayed by the Crown.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2020