A man was jailed for six months yesterday, suspended for three years, and fined Lm500 after pleading guilty to possession of pornographic material of underage children, to breaching the copyright law by duplicating programmes, games and software and to ill-treating a cat in September.

Ramon Zammit, 24, from Balzan, pleaded guilty to possessing pornographic films featuring underage children. He also pleaded guilty to ill-treating a cat on 10 September.

The court, presided over by magistrate Giovanni Grixti, heard that Zammit used his computer to duplicate software, games and programmes.

With regard to the pornographic material, the court heard that this consisted of a number of short clips which had not been circulated or in any way distributed.

On the charge of ill-treatment of the animal, the court heard that the cat was still alive and that the accused had changed his attitude towards animals.

Handing down his judgement, magistrate Giovanni Grixti said Zammit was a first time offender but added that in view of the seriousness of the charges brought against him, the court would not apply the provisions of the law usually applied in respect of first time offenders.

Magistrate Grixti jailed Zammit for six months, suspended for three years, and fined him Lm500.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafa prosecuted.