A relapser, who has various convictions on his criminal record, was yesterday jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to stealing a handbag in Marsascala.

Noel Saliba, 32, from Luqa, pleaded guilty to stealing Josephine Farrugia’s handbag on 18 April 2006 and to relapsing.

Handing down her judgement, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said that Saliba did not learn his lesson from the various convictions he had.

She said in the past he had been found guilty of various thefts, possession of a sharp and pointed instrument and voluntary damage, among others, and was placed on probation, had a suspended sentence and also an effective jail term. She said it was clear that he did not learn his lesson and did not make the best of the various chances he had been given.

The magistrate therefore jailed him for 18 months.

Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.