EDMONTON -- A drug-addicted thief confessed yesterday to threatening an Edmonton police officer and two mall security guards with a syringe he claimed contained the HIV virus.

Brenden Cudmore, 34, pleaded guilty in provincial court to three counts of assault with a weapon as well as mischief and two counts of possession of stolen property.

Cudmore, a journeyman carpenter with a serious alcohol and drug problem, was sentenced to eight months in jail, however the judge ruled he had already served his time with the 150 days he spent in pre-trial custody.

Judge Terry Matchett called the Dec. 21 incident at Kingsway Garden Mall a "gravely significant" matter.

"When he threatened to use a needle infected with the HIV virus on security officers and later on a police officer, it must have been a very difficult situation for them and requires a sentence that is a deterrent on others," said Matchett.

The judge also cited Cudmore's attempts to get substance abuse treatment and said that, along with his guilty plea, spared him getting a stiffer sentence.

Court heard Cudmore was approached by two security guards after being observed on a security video trying to break into a car in the mall's parking lot.

When told he was being put under arrest, Cudmore said he had needles in his pocket that were infected with the HIV virus and then pulled one out.

A city police officer then showed up and twice told him to put the needle down before attempting to take him down.

Cudmore again brandished the needle and warned it contained the deadly virus and the officer jumped back. Cudmore then fled on foot, court heard.

He was later nabbed by police.

Defence lawyer Sarah Terry told court her client admits the facts, but doesn't have a complete memory of it.

She also conceded his threats involving a needle supposedly containing a deadly virus were aggravating.

"Someone wielding a syringe is not something these people should have been subjected to," said Terry.

She added Cudmore was "extremely sorry and remorseful" over the incident and told court he had "apologized profusely" to the officers after he was arrested.

TONY.BLAIS@SUNMEDIA.CA