3 more years for inmate convicted of HMP beating, back-to-back robberies

A St. John's man already serving time fora previous robbery will see another three years added to his prison time for his role in two armed robberies and an assault at Her Majesty's Penitentiary.

Eric Douglas Squires, 37, is currently serving a five and a half year sentence for the armed robbery of Marie's Mini Mart on Elizabeth Avenue on Oct. 13, 2013.

On Tuesday, Squireswas sentenced to three additional years in prisonfor assaulting a man at HMP and participating in an additional robbery at the same Marie's Mini Mart on Oct. 21, 2013 and another at the Orange Store on Pennywell Avenue later that month.

Squires has a 19-page criminal record, including 21 convictions for breaking and entering.

The crown and the defense had both recommended that the additional three years be added to his sentence.

Squires told the court that the robberies occurred because he needed money to feed his morphine addiction.

Judge Lori Marshall acknowledged that Squires has alack of education, and that his problems with early drug use began with the death of his father.

She said she hopes that Squires receives the help he needs in prison.