Allan Grima, 21, from Cospicua admitted stealing hi-fi equipment and documents from four cars and damaging the vehicles in the process. Three of the thefts were made in June this year and one in November 2003 and all the crimes were committed in the afternoon.

The young man also admitted relapsing in view of previous convictions, defrauding Lm100, stealing cash and other items from Birzebbuga and driving a car that did not belong to him recklessly and at an excessive speed while his licence was suspended.

The court noted the accused had been given several opportunities to reform.

He not only did not make use of any of these opportunities, but fell deeper into the life of crime.

Presiding magistrate Anthony Vella told the young man that the crime he admitted could carry an eight-year jail term.

Considering his early guilty plea, Magistrate Vella felt this punishment would be excessive and instead sentenced Grima to four years in prison.

While in jail, the man will be following a rehabilitation programme. “When you come out of prison, you should be a new man and turn over a new leaf,” Magistrate Vella told him.

Inspectors Anthony Portelli and Noel Cutajar prosecuted.