A B.C. Supreme Court Justice leveled some harsh words against two Prince George men as he sentenced them Monday to time served followed by two years probation for their roles in two drug-related assaults.
In passing sentenced for Ryan James Watt, 24, and Colin Michaud Durrand, 25, Justice James Williams said he was agreeing to a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels "with reservations."
Watt had pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing bodily harm - a lesser charge than the count of unlawful confinement he had been facing - and Durrand to assault from an Oct. 30, 2015 incident in which, according to an agreed statement of facts, Durrand and another man had "transported" the victim to Watt's rural Prince George home.
The victim was told he was going to be beaten for using Watt's name over the phone. He was taken down into the basement where he was masked with a balaclava and his wrists tied together with zap-straps. He was then kicked and punched repeatedly in the body.
When the beating stopped, he was taken into the city and dropped off. The attack left him with extensive bruising and he did not seek medical attention but he was badly shaken, the court heard.
Durrand also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for a Sept. 9, 2015 incident where a different victim was taken to an Upland Street crack shack. There, Durrand confronted the man for allegedly stealing from him and another man.
He was then ordered to stretch his hands out on a table which an accomplice beat with a steel pipe before turning on to the rest of his body with fists and the pipe. The victim ended up with a broken leg and went to the hospital where he told staff he suffered the injuries while riding a bike.
His hands were heavily swollen but no fractures were found. Two plates and at least eight screws were needed to put his broken leg back together and he could need further surgery.
At the times of their arrests, Durrand had "virtually" no criminal record and was using cocaine, while Watt had a lengthier record and was using both heroin and cocaine. The roughly six months he's been in custody has been the longest Watt has been "dry" since he graduated from high school, the court heard.
Williams called the offences serious and said they were committed in "accordance with the lawless manner in which the drug subculture apparently believes is appropriate to act."
If there was a mitigating factor, Williams said it was that the acts were "driven by addiction."
"If anything demonstrates the pernicious harm done by the drug subculture, it's that," Williams added.
Watt's and Durrand's actions "demonstrated a weakness of character" and suggested Watt was "not even man enough to go one-on-one with anybody. You had to set it up and have help."
"It's quite despicable, both of you," Williams continued and warned them that any future offences will likely result in serious jail time.
"You can't manage drugs, drugs brought you here," Williams told the two. "If you become involved in drugs again, you're going to be back here and you will not, I assure you, find yourself the beneficiary of a break you've had here today."
Watt and Durrand were in custody for six months but will receive credit of 10 1/2 months time served before sentencing. Durrand plans to return to a job in the Okanagan while Watt is booked to go to a drug addiction treatment centre outside northern B.C. in the fall.
Watt continues to face trafficking and weapons charges from a separate alleged incident.
