Desni Syrette managed to rack up numerous charges in a short period of time — offences that were driven by drugs.
The 30-year-old woman, who had no prior criminal record, pleaded guilty last week to eight offences that occurred during 2023, as well as this year.
On Feb. 3, 2023, police were contacted about t break-in at Christie's RV on Trout Lake Road in the northern part of the city.
A security camera caught a person entering a trailer and leaving with a television.
The video, provided to police, showed the individual getting into a vehicle, which helped link Syrette to the crime.
She pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, she walked out of Walmart with a shopping cart filled with nearly $1,000 in merchandise she had neglected to pay for, the court heard.
City police located her an hour later, and the items, valued at $981, were returned to the store, prosecutor Andrew Allen said.
Syrette was convicted of theft under $5,000.
On Nov. 28, she damaged the front door of the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill on Great Northern Road.
A video — captured by the business and provided to the cops — showed a masked perpetrator striking the glass with an object.
The following day, police identified Syrette from another incident where she was wearing the same clothes, but her face wasn't covered, the assistant Crown attorney told Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek.
Her actions caused $2,022 damage to the DQ door. She pleaded guilty to mischief.
Syrette missed court dates on Oct. 30, Nov. 28 and Jan. 27 of this year.
Three months ago, on March 27, she didn't follow her 10-p.m.-to-7 a.m. curfew, breaching her release order.
She also was convicted of one count of trespassing at night.
The Crown and defence lawyer Leah Policicchio jointly proposed a sentence of time served (36 days) and 12 months month probation.
Syrette, who is a Batchewana First Nation member, is remorseful, the defence told Kwolek.
"Prior to this she was a contributing member of society" and then drugs took control of her life.
Her client wants to attend treatment and during her time in custody she has completed a significant number of programs, Policicchio said.
"She wants to go forward with her life."
Syrette apologized to the court for her actions, telling Kwolek she's been dealing with addiction for a few years.
"I'm trying to make myself a better person,” she said.
When the judge imposed the sentence, he called the number of charges Syrette accumulated in a short period of time an aggravating factor.
He also noted her "substance abuse got out of control, but it appears you got it in control while in custody."
During her probation, Syrette must take any recommended counselling for substance abuse.
As well, she must stay away from Walmart, the Dairy Queen on Great Northern Road and Christie's RV.
Kwolek also imposed a stand-alone restitution order requiring Syrette to pay $2,022 to DQ by June 12, 2025.
"Hopefully you can start paying it during the course of the year."