A 16-year-old boy was yesterday jailed for 18 months suspended for four years and placed on probation for a year after pleading guilty to setting fire to around 800 bales of straw in September last year.

The boy, whose name cannot be published by court order since he is still a minor, pleaded guilty to setting the straw on fire on the night of 8 and 9 September 2006 in Blue Grotto Avenue in Zurrieq.

He also pleaded guilty to damaging Fortunato Farrugia’s property and inflicting pain on his dog when he shot it with an air gun.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona jailed the boy for 18 months suspended for four years and ordered him to pay Mr Farrugia Lm1,600 in damages he caused within six months.

The magistrate also placed the boy under a probation order for a period of one year.

Police Inspector Walter Spiteri prosecuted.