The magistrates’ court yesterday jailed a 29-year-old man from Cospicua for two years after he pleaded guilty to stealing over Lm1,000 worth of cash and jewellery.

Philip Chircop pleaded guilty, before presiding magistrate Saviour Demicoli, to stealing over Lm1,000 worth of jewellery and money in Sliema to the detriment of Jovan Prokic on 30 November 2005.

He also pleaded guilty to causing over Lm50 worth of damage to property belonging to Mr Prokic and relapsing.

The court heard the testimony of Jean Cali from Caritas who said that Chircop had been successfully following a drug rehabilitation programme for the past five months at San Blas.

In handing down his judgement, magistrate Demicoli noted Chircop’s early guilty plea and criminal record and jailed him for two years.

He also recommended the director of Corradino Correctional Facility to allow Chircop to continue his drug rehabilitation programme.

Police inspector Silvio Valletta prosecuted.