An Italian man will be spending the next four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.

Salvatore Ciranna, 30, of Birkirkara, admitted committing three thefts between 18 January and 13 February. He stole from three residences and caused damage to each one in the process. The man was also guilty of relapsing in view of a previous conviction.

In view of this, presiding magistrate Giovanni Grixti ordered for him to be imprisoned for four years. The accused made his displeasure evident as he clapped his hands and muttered under his breath while walking out of the court.

At his arraignment, Ciranna had renounced the right to have a lawyer represent him and instead made his own submissions to the court. He had said that since he has a drug habit, a prison term would not be an adequate punishment. He had appealed to the court to hand down a community sentence.