'Bushman of Shuswap' sentenced to house arrest

A man who avoided police capture for two years while raiding cabins in the B.C. Interior was sentenced Friday to 23 months house arrest and three years probation.

Justice Robert Metzger also prohibited John Bjornstrom from travelling within 45 kilometres of Shuswap Lake, where he broke into at least 32 cabins.

The so-called Bushman of the Shuswap will serve out his sentence in Williams Lake, B.C. at his sister's home.

Prosecutors had pushed for a stronger sentence, but Metzger said there was a low to moderate risk Bjornstorm would re-offend.

Bjornstrom, who pleaded guilty to 10 charges of breaking-and-entering, threats and escape from lawful custody, must also submit a DNA sample.

He started raiding cabins after escaping from correctional camp in 1999.

He's been in custody since 2001.