CALGARY -- Choking back tears, a crack addict yesterday apologized for an addiction-fuelled crime spree which included taking part in the mugging of a 92-year-old woman.

Renee Nichole Lemire vowed her days of drug use are behind her. "I have lost a great deal to addiction," Lemire said through her sniffles.

"What I was doing was certainly going to lead me to death," she told provincial court Judge Sean Dunnigan.

Dunnigan said Lemire should deal with what triggered her fall into addiction, including past abuse.

Lemire, 22, pleaded guilty to crimes which culminated in her assisting a fellow crack addict flee Southcentre Mall after the robbery of 92-year-old Gertrude Gerritsen.

Lemire said she was sorry for her criminal behaviour.

"I want to sincerely apologize to the victims of my acts, especially Gertrude Gerritsen," she said. "You tend to do evil to get what you want.

"That is not how I want to live my life."

Crown prosecutor Adam May said Lemire was driving with another crack addict when her passenger told her to stop in the mall parking lot.

The woman then got out and mugged Gerritsen, knocking the senior to the ground and injuring her to steal her purse.

"Ms. Gerritsen suffered severe injuries with a lasting and debilitating effect," May said of the June 17 attack.

But, May said Lemire -- who pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact -- said Lemire wasn't aware her accomplice intended to rob the victim.

Dunnigan accepted a joint submission for the equivalent of a 22-month sentence for Lemire's crime spree, which included three break-ins to get money to buy drugs.

But instead of the 12 months probation suggested by May and defence counsel Mark Walters, Dunnigan ordered Lemire to be supervised for 18 months.

Outside court, Lemire's father and brother expressed hope she will be able to continue on the path to drug recovery.

"I do see hope," sibling Tyler Lemire said.

KEVIN.MARTIN@SUNMEDIA.CA