Posted Date: September 21, 2008

An Edmonton, Alberta guy who hit a police officer while ramming his squad car got a lecture on booze on his way to prison.

Shane Steil, was given eight months in the hoosegow, after getting credit for 11 months' worth of pretrial detention on charges of theft, dangerous driving, driving while banned, impaired driving and hit and run.

Steil had been pulled over on doubt of stealing a strip club's limo.

"You have to feel before you drink," said provincial court Judge Larry Anderson, after Steil stood in court and admitted he has a drinking trouble.

"It's a pretty straightforward concept. Since if you don't, punishments are going to keep getting longer and longer."

Steil was also banned from driving for three years as a result of two previous drunk-driving charges and ordered to pay the police $4,555 for the smashed squad car.

Court has heard Steil stole a limousine on April 4, 2008 as it sat running, but locked, outside Showgirls at 7103 78 Ave.

He managed to get into the comfort vehicle by prying open the window and unlocking it, with the help of a woman with small arms. He then took off in it with a friend.

At the time, a Showgirls' spokesman said the limo driver had just dropped off customers and was in the club picking up other people.

About thirty minutes later, Const. Greg Kitura spotted the stolen limousine speeding and swerving in the Mill Woods area.

As the officer told Steil to go round the engine off, Steil reversed the limo and rammed the cruiser.

Court heard Kitura was also struck in the thigh and had to jump onto his cruiser to avoid getting seriously injured.

Steil drove off, but a pursuing Kitura found the limousine a few blocks away, hit into a tree and on fire.

He was then able to seize Steil thanks to a Good Samaritan who had seen him "lurking" in the darkness and grabbed onto him.

Steil's friend, Christopher Lee, was nabbed nearby and was later fined $500 after pleading guilty to misbehavior.