A provincial court judge has sentenced 36-year-old Michael Robert Bryenton to 15 and a half months in jail for assault causing bodily harm, on top of time he's already served. When he gets out he'll be on probation for 18 months. He'd been in custody for more than three months.

Bryenton was found guilty of assault causing bodilly harm in 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 lawyer Lisa Goulden pointed out Bryenton's long criminal record — 83 previous adult convictions — and told the court previous rehabilitation and deterrence efforts haven't worked. She asked 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."