David Monsigneur, 33, admitted stealing the van and driving at a high speed.

On 12 July 1997, a Mellieha police patrol was notified that pedestrians had seen a van being driven at an excessive speed. The police officers tracked down the van in question, which later turned out to be stolen, but the driver, Monsigneur, refused to stop when he was told to. The squad eventually managed to arrest Monsigneur. The accused admitted he had stolen the van, saying he did it because his friend told him to and he wanted to save face. He added that he knew the police were chasing him. He said he tried to push their car out of the way when they got too close.

In his statement to police, Monsigneur claimed that he had taken many Dalmaine and Valium pills chased with shots of vodka in an attempt to rid himself of drug withdrawal symptoms.

The court said the accused had been given several chances to reform but chose to continue on the criminal path and it was therefore in no position to show clemency.

The man was therefore sentenced to two years in prison. The time he spent in preventative custody was to be deducted from this prison term.

The court was presided over by magistrate Abigail Lofaro while inspector Carmel Bartolo prosecuted.