Man with filed-down screwdriver jailed

Harley David Coleman sentenced on three offences

A 28-year-old man who had a screwdriver filed down to a point in his pocket when the police searched him was sentenced recently to 82 days in jail.

Harley David Coleman appeared before Judge Jeff Lantz in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to assault, carrying a concealed weapon and breaching an undertaking.

Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald told the court that on Aug. 29, Charlottetown police were dispatched to a call after a woman reported Coleman pushed her and slapped her in the face.

The court heard that woman called the police again on Sept. 6 to report another incident involving Coleman waiting in a vehicle outside her home.

MacDonald said the police searched Coleman after the second call and found a small screwdriver that had the tip filed down to a point.

Coleman, who has a prior criminal record, was sentenced in July to 30 days in jail for assaulting a police officer.

Defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court Coleman came to the province because he wanted to attend a funeral and to start a new life in P.E.I.

Once he was released from jail, Coleman made connections with the Native Council of P.E.I., which helped him find housing, Dalton said.

Before hearing his sentence, Coleman addressed the court, saying he was sorry for wasting the court’s time.

“I’ve been actually trying to change,” he said.

Along with the jail time, Coleman will be on probation for one year after his release.