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VERNON - A 26-year-old repeat offender with 30 prior convictions, will spend another 12 months in jail following a three-day crime spree last fall.

Sheldon Donald Lee Veness was sentenced at the Vernon courthouse yesterday, July 31, for break and enter, theft, arson, fleeing from police, dangerous driving and other property-related crimes. The crime spree took place over a period of three days last November.

Veness was originally facing 21 charges but pled guilty to seven at an early court appearance. The other 14 charges were stayed by the crown.

The court heard how Veness had used heroin since he was a teenager, was an "entrenched drug user," and had 30 prior convictions for break and enter, dangerous driving, theft, drug trafficking and others.

"To say his father throughout... (his) formative years was not a positive role model would be an understatement," Justice Dennis Morgan told the court. "His father gave him a stolen car for his 16th birthday."

Justice Morgan told the court Veness' father had been absent during his childhood, often being in prison himself.

"Both his biological parents had significant addictions problems," the judge said. Justice Morgan said Veness' mother had become a prostitute to support her drug habit.

The court heard how on Nov. 13, 2018, Veness had broken into a Vernon home through a sliding door in the middle of the night, while the family were in bed, and stolen their vehicle and several snowboards.

Three days later he targetted another Vernon property breaking into the garage in the early hours of the morning and waking up the property owner. Veness stole the owner's Dodge Journey and drove the car to Okanagan Landing School and set fire to the vehicle in the parking lot.

Police found Veness' cell phone nearby and saw text messages and photos offering the previously stolen snowboard up for sale.

A day later a Vernon RCMP officer recognized Veness at a Tim Hortons drive-thru and attempted and block his vehicle in and to make an arrest. Although the officer had his hand on Veness' car window, he sped off at high-speed driving over a curb. Police made the decision not to pursue him due to his erratic driving.

A day later, following the surveillance of property police suspected Veness would go to, he was arrested and has remained in custody since.

Crown lawyer Laura McPheeters argued for a 32-month sentence saying Vaness had a "lack of desire" for rehabilitation and only said such things to please the court and probation officers, and he had "little aspiration" to change.

"It's aggravating people's possessions were stolen and destroyed," McPheeters said. "It flowed from one thing to the next."

"He was texting to arrange to buy heroin the very day he completed the substance abuse management program," Justice Morgan told the court. "He alternates from acknowledging he needs professional help to then saying he can go it alone."

Justice Morgan said not only could Veness not maintain regular employment, but he had also not maintained regularly employment while in custody.

Justice Morgan read out a lengthy list of sentences, which when time already served is taken into consideration, means Veness will spend another 12 months behind bars. Veness' prison time will be followed by two years probation, where he is forbidden to be in a vehicle unless the owner is present, along with a long list of other restrictions. Veness will also need to supply a sample to the national DNA databank.

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