Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Judge tells shoplifter to grow up and make more responsible choices

Jun 2, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A woman who bear sprayed a Prince Albert store employee, just moments after handing over handfuls of stolen merchandise, has received a five-month jail sentence and nine months probation.

Dacey Corrigal, 22, who has been in custody since the incident last February, appeared in person Thursday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. She entered guilty pleas to assault with a weapon (bear mace) and breach of a previous court order.

According to the statement of facts read in court, Corrigal had been at the South Hill Mall Shopper’s Drug Mart location and had first tried to pay for items. Upon having her card declined, Corrigal attempted to leave the store but set off the security beeper.

When confronted by the store’s loss prevention officer, Corrigal initially denied doing anything wrong but then began handing over a number of cosmetics items. The total value was over $100.

After being told she was not welcome back in the store, Corrigal sprayed the store employee in the face. Police were called soon after and were able to locate Corrigal behind the mall.

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Reading from a statement provided by the store employee, Crown lawyer John Syrnick said she experienced sore eyes and a burning feeling on her arms for a few days.

“The skin was delicate to the touch,” he described.

Legal aid lawyer Julia Quigley said Corrigal was extremely high at the time on crystal meth and was coming off a four-day bender. Corrigal also has no memory of the incident.

“It was very much addiction fueled,” she said.

When given the opportunity to speak, Corrigal indicated a desire to write a letter of apology to the store employee and promised to get her life on the right track.

Noting how the sentence needs to reflect rehabilitation as well as deterrence, Judge Harradence explained shoplifting is a big problem.

“Not only in this community but it’s a problem everywhere; people stealing from retail outlets and then assaulting security officers who are just trying to do their job,” he said.

Harradence cautioned Corrigal that if she were to appear in court again on similar charges, the next judge would look at the five-month sentence she’s serving.

“The price goes up,” he said.

Harradence also strongly encouraged Corrigal to follow her probation order, kick her crystal meth habit, and stay focused on her plan to complete a culinary trades program.

“You are no longer 12, you are 22,” he said, adding it was up to her to make responsible choices.

In addition to her Prince Albert matter, Corrigal also has outstanding charges from Saskatoon. She was one of five people arrested after a weapons seizure on Jan. 5. She’s back in court on those matters on June 15.

According to the most recent crime stats from the Prince Albert Police Service (April), theft under $5,000 complaints was up 19 per cent over the same period last year, with 409 incidents compared to 343.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell