A man was yesterday jailed for two years suspended for four years after pleading guilty to damaging his former girlfriend’s flat and car after the relationship “turned sour”.

Keith Vassallo, 21, from Siggiewi, pleaded guilty to stealing Charlene Zammit’s mobile from her workplace on 1 June. He also pleaded guilty to setting Ms Zammit’s Peugeot on fire in Marsa as well as damaging a car parked nearby. He was further accused of damaging Ms Zammit’s apartment in Mqabba and illegally using telecommunication equipment.

Before Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, Vassallo pleaded guilty to all the charges brought against him. Ms Zammit told the court that she was his girlfriend for a time and when they broke up, the relationship ended on a bad note and, according to the defence, the relationship “turned sour”.

The court also heard Vassallo’s father saying that he was prepared to pay for all the damages sustained by third parties which amounted to approximately Lm1,800.

Magistrate Apap Bologna, after taking into consideration that Vassallo was a first-time offender, jailed him for two years suspended for four years. He also bound him not to approach Ms Zammit with a Lm100 fine in default.

Police Inspectors Mario Tonna and Walter Spiteri prosecuted while Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Kris Busietta appeared for the accused.