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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. —

A P.E.I. man who stole groceries and clothing recently asked a judge for a longer jail sentence, saying it would give him time to get his life back on track.

Todd Lund, 50, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to breaching his probation, two counts of theft and three counts of failing to attend court.

The court heard Lund stole from Island Beach Company on Nov. 9, 2018 by putting two sweatshirts in a backpack.

They were later recovered and Lund told the police he was planning to sell them to get food.

Later that month, Lund went to a Superstore where he put items in a backpack and left the store without paying.

When store security confronted him in the parking lot, Lund cursed at them and continue to yell abuse as he walked away until he was out of sight.

Lund also missed three court dates.

Defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court substance abuse has been an issue for Lund who also has some mental health concerns and deals with short-term memory loss after being on life support 12 years ago.

Lund also has diabetes and was homeless at the time of the offences, Dalton said.

“It’s not a crime of greed so much as desperation.”

Dalton recommended a sentence of a further 40 days in jail on top of time already spent in custody.

Before hearing his sentence, Lund addressed the court and asked for a longer sentence than that, saying it would give him structure he needs.

Lund said most of the thefts he has committed were to get food and his health spiralled, leading to stays in intensive care several times.

“It’s mostly all health issues, poverty and homelessness,” he said.

Douglas sentenced Lund to a total of 95 days in jail on all of the charges.

With credit for time served, it left Lund with 50 days still on his sentence.



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