A 24-year-old was yesterday jailed for seven years and fined Lm2,500 after he was found guilty of possessing 1,287 ecstasy pills.

Clive Martin Bartolo, 24, from Ghaxaq, was yesterday found guilty of possessing illegal substances in circumstances that showed that they were not for his exclusive use on 23 September 2004 and in the preceding month and a half, as well as possessing cannabis resin on the same date and the preceding three months. Bartolo was also found guilty of committing a crime less than 100 metres from a bocci club.

The court, presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano, heard how Bartolo was found in possession of around 507 ecstasy pills and led the police to the discovery of another 780 pills which he hid in a bathroom in his home. Later, he had also pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.

The court heard how Bartolo, who started using cannabis at age 12 and ecstasy at age 15, used to buy the ecstasy pills at Lm1.75 or Lm1.70 each and resell them at Lm2 each. He started buying the pills around a month before he was arrested.

In handing out his judgement, magistrate Quintano took into account Bartolo's clean criminal record and the fact that he cooperated with the police.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara led the prosecution.