A young Port Alberni man with a horrific history of violence and addiction, had only just gotten out of jail when he found himself back in police custody.
21-year old Michael Martin had just gotten out of jail on March 1st for robbing the Third Avenue 7-11 twice last summer.
On April 13th he and a woman tried to walk out of No Frills with a duffel bag full of food.
Staff tried to stop them and the couple tried to run, but a shopper got in their way.
Martin hit the shopper with the loaded duffel bag and punched him in the face before other shoppers restrained him.
Crown Counsel recommended he go back to jail for 9 months, but Judge Ronald Webb, who had previously sentenced Martin to 2 years for the 7-11 robbery, released him after 6 days time served.
Martin’s girlfriend remains in jail awaiting sentencing for her role in the attempted theft.