Michael Rizzo, from Fgura, stole several cheques and a cheque book from Joe Pace on 3 May 1999 in a factory in Bulebel, Zejtun. He forged signatures on these cheques and fraudulently used them to his advantage.

In April 2000 the accused admitted his crimes and the court ordered probation officer Mariella Camilleri to issue a pre-sentencing report. Rizzo had a drug abuse problem and Ms Camilleri said he needed to be enrolled in a residential rehabilitation programme.

Despite being given several chances to reform, the accused never seemed to make the necessary effort to change his ways, especially since one of his urine samples tested positive for morphine. Since his live-in girlfriend did not encourage him to beat his drug addiction, the court ruled that a jail term would be the only adequate solution, together with a rehabilitation programme.

The court was presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera while inspector Martin Sammut prosecuted.