Evan Grisdale was on six driving suspension orders when city police nabbed him behind the wheel in the early morning hours of March 9.
The cops were responding to a call that stemmed from a chain of events that began with a 9-1-1 call, Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek heard Friday.
Someone called the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 1 a.m. requesting a welfare check on Douglas Street.
Grisdale had contacted the Ontario Provincial Police a number of times about outstanding arrest warrants.
He then called back warning if they didn't come and get him he would burn the house down, prosecutor Chris Thompson told the court.
By the time the police arrived at the residence, Grisdale had taken off in his partner's vehicle.
Officers located him as he sped through a red light on Wellington Street West near Henrietta Street and then pulled into a driveway.
They suspected he'd been drinking and issued a roadside breath demand.
Grisdale refused three times to provide the sample.
He pleaded guilty to driving while his licence was suspended and failing to provide a breath sample.
At the time of the incident, the accused had six suspension orders, a number of which were for an indefinite period and one which ends in July 2025, Thompson said.
The 21-year-old also was convicted of assault in connection with an incident that occurred at Bellevue Park on July 20, 2023.
Kwolek heard a cyclist reported he had been struck by an unknown person who pulled him off his bike and slapped him several times.
The man had passed a group of people and accidentally splashed a baby stroller.
He was wearing earplugs and wasn't aware of what had occurred.
Later, when he again drove by them Grisdale attacked him.
The Crown and defence lawyer Sarah Tucci jointly recommended a 12-month conditional sentence, which her client will serve in the community, followed by probation.
Grisdale has been struggling with alcohol for quite sometime, but has been doing well on bail, is working long hours and is remorseful for his actions, particularly the assault, she said.
When asked if there was anything he wanted to say to the court, Grisdale said he's "thankful" because "the consequences could have been a lot worse."
He told Kwolek he will follow the orders so "I can finally get a clean slate."
During the first six months of his sentence, Grisdale will be under house arrest and can only leave his residence for work, medical emergencies and appointments, and counselling for alcohol misuse and psychological and psychiatric issues.
As well, he is permitted to be in the community from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays to obtain the necessities of life.
Home confinement "is meant to be punishment" but "we want you to work and be a productive member of society," the judge told him.
During the remaining six months, Grisdale will have a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
Throughout the custodial portion of his sentence, he is to have no contact with the assault victim and can't occupy the driver's seat of a vehicle.
"This is jail not party time so you are not to consume drugs or alcohol," Kwolek warned.
Grisdale will be on probation for one-year, with conditions that include no contact with the victim and require him to take any recommended counselling.
Kwolek also prohibited him from driving for five years.
He imposed a $1,000 fine for the Highway Traffic Act offence of driving while suspended, telling the young man there also is an automatic six-month suspension.
In addition to the fine, Grisdale must pay $400 in surcharges.
The judge gave him two years to pay the $1,500 in financial penalties.
As well, Grisdale, who is Indigenous, is banned from possessing weapons for two years, with an exception that permits him to hunt for sustenance.
He must also provide a DNA sample for the national database.
Kwolek warned him not to breach the conditional sentence order because "you will spend a lot of time in custody."