Michael Robert Bryenton gets 15 months in jail for assault

A provincial court judge has sentenced 36-year-old Michael RobertBryentonto 15 and a half months in jailfor assault causing bodily harm, on top of time he's already served. When he gets out he'll be on probation for18 months. He'd been in custody for more than three months.

• Michael Robert Bryenton found guilty of assaulting Trevor Acorn

Bryenton was found guilty of assault causing bodilly harmin late February, but not guilty of a more severe charge of aggravated assault. After a dispute over drugs at a boarding house last November, Trevor Acorn lost an eye, suffered skull fractures, and spent weeks in hospital.

"I'd just like to apologize for my actions, to Trevor and to the court," Bryenton said just before the sentence was read in court Friday.

"I know I need help with addictions ... I need to start a new life," he added.

Bryenton's lawyer Thane MacEachern argued Friday that Bryenton was just party to the assault back in November, and said the judge needed to base sentencing on that.

Crown lawyerLisa Goulden pointed out Bryenton's long criminal record 83 previous adult convictions and told the courtprevious rehabilitation and deterrence efforts haven't worked. Sheasked for federal prison time, which would happen only if Bryenton had been sentenced to more than two years.

"You haven't been very good to accept help offered to you by probation," said Judge John Douglas. "You have to start following probation directions in respect to counselling and treatment, and make a reasonable effort to get a job."