After causing Lm55 worth of damage to a car while trying to break into it, a man from Zabbar was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for four years, and fined Lm15.

Antoine Sciberras, 25, yesterday pleaded guilty to trying to break into Melanie Abela’s car on 3 May 2005 at around 7.10pm. The car was in a car park in Paola when the crime was committed. The man also disobeyed police orders.

The accused vowed to pay back the Lm55 worth of damage within a month. Presiding magistrate Saviour Demicoli took this, along with Sciberras’s apology to Ms Abela and his cooperation with police, into consideration when handing down judgment. Sciberras was also warned he would face a Lm100 fine were he to approach Ms Abela within the next year. Inspector Jesmond Borg prosecuted.