Lifelong addiction cause of Sydney man’s crime spree

SYDNEY — At 45, he has already spent half of his life behind bars and he will now spend an additional two years in jail.

The first jail sentence for Hugh Trevor Macneil, of Sydney, was in 1996 when he was 18. He was sentenced to serve 30 days.

His home life was marred by violence and he accused his stepfather of being physically abusive.

He began smoking marijuana at the age of 10 and by 15, had moved up the drug ladder to opiates. By the time he was 20, he had become an intravenous drug user and begun burning bridges at every turn as he would beg, borrow or steal anything in sight to pay for his next high.

“Substance abuse has long been his problem,” said defence lawyer Steve Jamael, adding that for nearly his client’s whole life, he has experienced addiction and homelessness.

“He’s lost everything in his life, except his sister,” said Jamael, noting everyone else abandoned him because of how his addiction changed him.

In appearing before provincial court Judge Shane Russell, Jamael said his client is now on methadone in a bid to break his addiction and wants to enrol in a rehabilitation program.

Russell was tasked with sentencing Macneil on 20 offences that occurred in St. John’s, N.L., and in Sydney between 2019 and 2021.

Macneil was sentenced on eight counts of breaching court orders, three counts of theft, three counts of mischief, two counts of auto theft, and single counts of break, enter and theft, break and enter, unlawfully in a dwelling and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

THE CHARGES

In recounting the facts of the offences, prosecutor Darcy Macpherson told the court that Macneil was charged in connection with a break-in at a St. John’s business, Yellowbelly Brewery and Pub, in March 2021.

Macneil smashed a window to gain entry but in doing so, he dropped his cellphone and bank card which were retrieved by police.

The company reported that two computers, $500 cash along with cheques and a passport were stolen from the facility. Video surveillance showed Macneil in the establishment and when he was arrested, he was found in possession of the missing passport and cheques.

Other charges included stealing a a Domino’s pizza delivery vehicle from a residential street, stealing a doorbell camera, and a wallet and cellphone from a residence. There were also offences related to break, enter and theft and was found in possession of ammunition.

SYDNEY CHARGES

In Sydney, Macneil was charged with several offences after removing two televisions and several laptops from a home in Glace Bay where he was staying. There was an incident in May 2021 when Macneil was found asleep near an oil tank at a residence in Membertou.

He was extremely belligerent with police, including spitting on the officers, and he later urinated in the holding cell.

In July 2021, Macneil was again charged with auto theft in stealing another delivery vehicle that was left running near a pizza shop in Sydney.

In giving credit of 25 months on remand, Macpherson recommended a sentence of two years and seven months while Jamael recommended a conditional sentence that would be served in the community.

In passing sentence, Russell noted that many of Macneil’s crimes were similar in nature but some he classed as rather disgusting in referencing Macneil spitting on officers and urinating in the cell.

“You were creating chaos in two provinces,” said the judge.

Russell expressed concern that Macneil may still not have learned his lesson, noting the accused has been down this road prior with no evidence of change.

Russell imposed a two-year sentence on Macneil along with ordering he provide a DNA sample to the national registry and he be banned from possessing firearms for five years.

The sentence didn’t sit well with Macneil, who spoke out in court saying he was going to appeal.

He also lashed out at Russell, saying he should not have been the sentencing judge because he prosecuted him on previous charges.

After Macneil was taken out of court, Russell told both the Crown and defence that he had no recollection of ever prosecuting Macneil prior to being appointed a judge.