Federal jail sentence imposed on robbery charge

Parents funded a $10,000 treatment program

He started drinking at age 12 and experimenting with cocaine at 15.

By age 28, he was an intravenous drug user, had no job, his three children were taken from him and placed in care with relatives, he had no place to live and his mental health issues were going unchecked.

Yet somehow he managed to stay out of trouble and did not have a criminal record.

That all changed last Jan. 10, when Stephen Douglas Hollohan walked into a north end Sydney convenience store and plunked a knife on the counter in front of the male clerk on duty.

“My father just died and I’m sorry to do this,” Hollohan told the clerk. “I only want the paper money and don’t touch the panic button,” he said.

The clerk complied, with the exception of triggering the silent alarm, and Hollohan fled the store with roughly $150.

On Wednesday, Hollohan was sentenced to serve a 2.5-year federal jail sentence and is banned for life from ever possessing weapons or explosives. He is also to supply a DNA sample to the national registry.

He was sentenced on charges of armed robbery, three counts of breaching court orders and a single count of assault.

“This is not the end of the story for you but an opportunity,” said provincial court Judge Ann Marie MacInnes, adding she hoped Hollohan takes full advantage of all programming offered in the federal system.

“When you come out, you can start fresh,” said the judge.

Hollohan, of Sydney, wiped away tears during his sentencing Wednesday in hearing his life recounted by prosecutor Shane Russell and defence lawyer Andre Landry.

Despite strong support from his family, Hollohan continued to be pulled down by the power of his opiate addiction. His parents funded a $10,000 treatment program for their son which did not produce the results all had hoped for.

“He’s had a lot of support over his life that others never had. He now has a lot of prove to himself, his children and others,” said Russell, in recommending a three-year sentence with threemonths credit for time spent on remand.

The assault charge related to an incident involving his girlfriend, who had accused Hollohan of stealing money from her. Hollohan admitted to pushing her and putting his arm around her neck in an attempt to choke her. The two breaches were related to contact he had with her despite being ordered to have no contact.

Landry told the court that at the time of the offence, his client was depressed in having no secure shelter and learning that his children were being placed with relatives. He recommended a two-year sentence followed by probation.

“In reading your pre-sentence report, it is chilling to see how someone who had such a positive start in life but yet became so gripped in addiction,” said the judge.