COCAINE-DEALING SENIOR WILL SERVE 2 YEARS AT HOME

A Winnipeg senior convicted of selling crack cocaine out of his North
End apartment suite will spend the next two years confined to his residence.

Provincial court Judge Sid Lerner told Mervyn Yule, 68, that only his
age and ill health spared him from spending his sentence in jail. The
man has suffered heart attacks, back surgeries, and has Type 2 diabetes.

But Lerner sternly warned Yule -- who throughout the sentencing was
hunched over holding his back -- that if he breached one of his
conditions he could serve the rest of his time in jail.

"This is a jail sentence served in the community," the judge said. "If
you breach any of these conditions you will be arrested. I don't
expect to see you back again."

Last month, court was told Yule was found with more than 100 rocks of
cocaine after police received a tip.

Yule, who said he hasn't been able to work because of back pain which
surgeons have tried to correct three times, said he was persuaded to
sell drugs because he couldn't pay his debts on a $1,400 monthly pension.

Court was also told that after the drugs were seized by police last
fall, Yule was beaten by the drug suppliers.

Lerner told Yule he has to stay in his apartment 24 hours a day, seven
days a week unless he has permission to go to medical or counselling
appointments.