Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Vehicle hostage taking results in two year sentence

May 1, 2025 | 2:00 PM

A Nipawin woman who followed strangers to their vehicle, and while claiming to have a knife, demanded they drive her to a location 25 minutes down the road, has received a two-year jail sentence.

Jake Grieves, 20, appeared Thursday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court. The case had initially been scheduled for trial, however, guilty pleas were instead entered to robbery and breach of a previous court order (a curfew).

On February 6, at approximately 9:56 p.m., Prince Albert RCMP received a report of an armed robbery.

According to facts read in court by Crown Prosecutor Alex Shramko, three people leaving a gas and convenience store at the Waskesiu turnoff were followed to their vehicle.

Grieves hopped in the passenger seat and demanded they drive her to Northside. Grieves claimed to have a knife but never revealed it, and during the drive, kept her hand in her pocket. Along the way, it was the driver who notified police, and the vehicle was intercepted at Northside.

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There was no weapon found, and the victims did not report any physical injuries.

Upon later searching Grieves, police found a small amount of methamphetamine and later that month, she received a sentence of 180 days.

Thursday’s sentence will begin after the previous one has concluded, meaning she will likely be transferred to a penitentiary.

Defence lawyer Tara Hetherington remarked that Grieves makes no excuse for her actions and is remorseful. Hetherington also noted Grieves has essentially been homeless since she was 16 and has been struggling with addictions.

When given the opportunity to speak, she stood in the prisoner’s box and said, “I’m sorry.”

While in custody, she’s mentioned plans to complete grade 12 and access programming for mental health and addictions.

Judge Lubyk accepted the joint submission presented and noted how frightening the experience must have been for the passengers.

“And had a significant psychological impact on them,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social