A Crown prosecutor admitted on Thursday that Edmonton police used "unnecessary force" during the June arrest — captured on civilian cellphone video — of a truck thief who was kicked repeatedly and thrown head first into a brick wall after he was handcuffed.

Accepting a joint submission from the Crown and defence, a judge sentenced Kyle Parkhurst to three-and-a-half years in prison on 28 charges related to a methamphetamine-fuelled crime spree that involved fleeing from police in stolen vehicles.

Parkhurst had originally faced 84 charges. With credit for time served, he will have about two-and-a-half years left in his sentence.