A former drug addict who has now managed to kick the habit was placed on probation for three years after he pleaded guilty to stealing five car stereos in February and March 2002.

Noel Aquilina, 32, from Cospicua, pleaded guilty to stealing five car stereos on 10 and 15 February 2002 and 26 March 2002, damaging the cars, handling stolen property, breaching his probation order and committing a crime during the operative term of a suspended jail term.

Handing down her judgement, Magistrate Doreen Clarke took note of the fact that Aquilina has managed to kick the drug addiction after attending and successfully concluding a drug rehabilitation programme and is now gainfully employed.

She said the court believes that Aquilina should be given a chance to continue his life on the right track and therefore placed him on probation for three years. She also extended the suspended jail term he breached for an extra three years.

Police Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi prosecuted.