'Wes the Cat' goes back to jail

A long-time petty criminal in Charlottetown has received his 66th conviction.

Wilfred Stanley Edwards, 65, was sentenced to 90 days in jail in Provincial Court Monday.

Edwards, also known as "Wes the Cat," stole a P.E.I. Humane Society donation jar containing $26. The jar had been located at a Charlottetown restaurant.

Edwards' previous convictions almost all relate to petty theft.

Crown attorney John McMillan argued for a two-year federal penitentiary term, saying Edwards was making a mockery of the justice system with his repeat thefts.

Edwards blamed alcohol for his crimes but indicated he's cutting back on his consumption.

"Captain Morgan's been put away," he told the court. "I only drink some beer and maybe a little of the Russian Prince Vodka."

Edwards — who arrived at the courthouse on a blue, 10-speed Supercycle — did not bring a lawyer with him to the hearing.

66th conviction!?? Some posters to this story on CBC website are blaming the lack of PEI mental health care for his crimes. They say he should have been forced to AA a long time ago, and then followed to ensure he stayed sober. I agree somewhat with this, but I also think some hard time in a federal penitentiary would have done some good - about 40 convictions or so earlier.

What's hard about 3 meals a day and a dry bed in Sleepy Hollow? Then again, if he did spend a lot of time there already, when didn't those periods of sobriety help him to thrust the devil's brew aside? Could it be that he had become aware that a little time in jail was not a hard thing? Especially to an alcoholic who probably isn't used to the finer things in life while free. Maybe he is just another example of the folks that use the system in a way it was not designed to function.

It will be interesting to see how long after his release he will be caught with his hand in the money jar again.