A 24-year-old man from Gzira was yesterday jailed for a total of four years after he pleaded guilty to stealing and damaging a car, and relapsing.

Terence Vella pleaded guilty to stealing and causing Lm165 worth of damage to a car belonging to Caroline Hili from Zebbug on 16 October 2006 in Birkirkara.

Vella also pleaded guilty, before magistrate Saviour Demicoli, to committing an offence during the operative period of a two-year suspended sentence which, as a result, was converted into an effective jail term of two years.

In handing down his judgement, magistrate Demicoli noted Vella’s criminal record, his early guilty plea and that he had cooperated with the police.

Furthermore, magistrate Demicoli also took into consideration the fact that Vella had agreed to pay a total of Lm165 in damages to Mrs Hili within six months.

The court also recommended the director of the Corradino Correctional Facility to help Vella deal with his drug problem.

Police inspector Ramon Mercieca prosecuted.