An intoxicated man who tried to lead an eight-year-old girl away from her mother received a 45-day jail sentence Wednesday.

But since Keith Richard Blanchard already served that time while he was waiting for the matter to be dealt with by the courts, he will not have to do any additional time for the offence.

Offenders always receive credit for time served in prison before their matters go to court.

Last June, Blanchard entered a laundromat and tried to take a little girl by the hand while the mother was in the bathroom.

When the mother later tried to intervene, Blanchard kissed her on the mouth, Whitehorse RCMP told the Star last year.

Blanchard then made his way over to the Yukon Inn and began bothering people.

The RCMP were called and Blanchard was arrested at the Petro Canada station across Fourth Avenue from the inn.

The 41-year-old was charged with assault on the mother, forcible seizure of the little girl, causing a disturbance in public and failing to abstain from alcohol.

Blanchard has a past record of alcohol-related offences. He was ordered by the court earlier to stay off the juice.

Blanchard, who lives in Pelly Crossing, was in Whitehorse last summer to have an abscessed tooth looked at.

His lawyer, Elaine Cairns, said the combination of alcohol and the T3 pain killers he was on 'blurred his memory.'

Blanchard said he thought he knew the girl and just wanted to give her some candy.

'He's aware that he frightened her,' said Cairns.

The assault and forcible seizure charges were dropped.

Since the incident, Blanchard has been receiving counselling for his alcohol addiction.

He has also been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly and is experiencing his longest period of sobriety since his youth, Justice of the Peace Dean Cameron and the court were told.

'Mr. Blanchard has realized that he absolutely has to do something about his alcoholism,' said Cairns.