Man jailed for 'ransacking' office after North Shore break-in

Photo: Castanet Staff

A man who has been behind bars since he broke into and ransacked a North Kamloops office in March, stealing computers and other electronics, has been ordered to spend another two months in jail.

Brandon Alexander Paul, 37, pleaded guilty in Kamloops provincial court on Thursday to one count each of break and enter and willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

Court heard police were called to offices belonging to ASK Wellness, 440 Mackenzie Ave., just after midnight on March 4, 2022. A passerby phoned police after seeing a person break into the building.

The caller provided a description of the suspect, and a Mountie responding to the call found someone matching that description nearby. He was arrested and investigators recovered two laptops, a microphone, a laminator and office keys.

Crown prosecutor Evan Goulet said Paul “ransacked” the office. He smashed a window to get in, then broke at least one interior office door and rifled through drawers. He accessed three offices while inside.

Goulet said the man gave police a fake name, which led to the obstructing charge. He said Paul’s identity was only confirmed through his fingerprints.

“So Mr. Paul never came clean about what his name was,” Goulet said.

“That was the result of police work.”

Court heard Paul had a harrowing upbringing and has spent years living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Defence lawyer Graham Kay said Paul is open to treatment for substance use issues.

Paul has a lengthy criminal record with 75 prior convictions, including 34 for property-related offences and 10 for break and enter. He has been in custody since his arrest in March.

“There’s a lot of change, some things out there in life that I have to look at,” Paul told court. “I just want to make myself better. This lifestyle I’ve been living, it’s sick. I just want to have a better life."

Calling the incident “a serious break and enter,” Kamloops provincial court Judge Marianne Armstrong sentenced Paul to 60 new days in prison to be followed by a year of probation.