Poverty and addiction drove Andrew Lavallee to commit a series of crimes – including stealing a car and leading Greater Sudbury Police on a short chase.

In Sudbury court and facing 48 charges, Lavallee pleaded guilty to 14 of them. In exchange, the Crown dropped the other charges.

Ontario Court Justice Martin Lambert gave him the equivalent of a one-year jail sentence. However, since Lavallee had been in custody for 245 days, he received pre-trial custody credit of 367.5 days – slightly more than the one-year jail term he received.

Justice Lambert asked Lavallee what he planned to do when he was released from jail.

“I’m going to get my medical done, and there are supports to help me to do it,” Lavallee said. “Sorry for causing all this.”

“You caused a lot of damage to a lot of people,

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