Alberton man who drugged, robbed 82-year-old man gets 2 years in jail

• 82-year-old Alberton resident robbed of cash at home

Gallant admitted he committed the thefts to pay off a debt to his drug dealer.

"I just wanna put the drugs behind me," he said as he addressed the court, wiping away tears. "I can't believe the trouble they've caused in my life, and for my children.

In the most serious of those thefts Gallant admitted he had a 14-year-old deliver a coffee containing a sedative to an 82-year-old senior, then Gallant entered the man's home and took his wallet, containing $800.

Court heard today that toxicology testing determined the man had been administered benzodiazepine, a drug not part of any of his prescriptions.

Police, paramedics and the fire department were called to the man's home on the evening of Dec.21, 2015, and found him incoherent.

The man told police he was given the coffee by the youth, felt the effects of the sedative and then woke up on the floor to see Gallant standing over him and removing his wallet from his pants pocket.

Gallant also pleaded guilty to the theft of a battery charger from Kent Building Supplies in Summerside, and to a charge of breaking and entering involving a vacant home in Alberton.

Drugs to blame

Gallant said he's lost everything after becoming addicted to prescription narcotics 15 years ago. He said barely a day goes by that he doesn't feel pain for what he did. He also said he contracted hepatitis C as a result of taking drugs.

Gallant was lucky his 82-year-old victim wasn't killed or seriously injured as a result of the sedative put in his coffee, said Judge JeffLantz.

The victim spent three days in hospital and still suffers from the trauma he experienced that evening, Crown attorney John Diamond said.

Gallant's actions were planned, deliberate and showed little to no concern for the consequences, added Diamond.

Gallant has "a record of taking advantage of elderly victims," Diamond told the court, to whichGallant's lawyerTrishCheverie replied"all that is admitted."

The sentence of two years less a day in provincial custody was a joint recommendation from the Crown and the defence.

Gallant will also be on probation for three years after his release, and was ordered to pay $1,000 in victims' surcharges and $1,354 in restitution.