‘Wasting your life’

Habitual thief lambasted by judge and Crown

A habitual thief has left both the Crown and a provincial court judge exasperated.

Crown attorney Valerie Moore soundly criticized Daniel James Acorn, 33, as a constant bane on society.

“Whatever Mr. Acorn’s problems are…he is a nuisance to the local business community,’’ Moore said in court Wednesday.

“There really is nothing positive that can be said about the choices he’s making.’’

What Acorn chooses to do time and again is commit crimes, notably theft.

He has a criminal record stretching 34 pages long.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to seven months in jail for his most recent string of crime — thefts that include jamming a bottle of vodka down the front of his pants and attempting to conceal three steaks beneath his hoodie.

Judge John Douglas told Acorn an aggravating factor in the most recent thefts that began in late September is that Acorn simply keeps offending.

“You are wasting the court’s time, you are wasting the police’s time, you are wasting the businesses’ time, but more importantly you are wasting your life,’’ Douglas told the man.

The judge ordered Acorn to pay restitution but voiced great doubt in having the demand realized.

Douglas also told Acorn to perform 50 hours of community work and to stay away from the businesses that he stole from.

Acorn will also be on probation for 18 months after he gets out of jail.

Defence lawyer Thane MacEachern noted his client Acorn had a very difficult upbringing.

Acorn’s father was murdered. Acorn has battled with learning disabilities.

Acorn struggles with addictions.

And Acorn recently lost his partner to an overdose.

“This past year has been hard — waking up with my girlfriend dead beside me,’’ Acorn told the court.