A former policeman was jailed for seven months, suspended for 14 months, yesterday after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent.

Brian Mangion, 39, from Qormi, admitted possessing an undisclosed amount of cannabis. The court, presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano, heard that when Mangion was caught in possession of the drug, he was still a member of the Police Force and was having family problems.

Magistrate Quintano, who also heard Mangion plead guilty to relapsing, jailed the former police constable for seven months, suspended for 14 months.

Police Inspector Dennis Theuma prosecuted and Dr Joseph Giglio appeared for the accused.