A 33-year-old man was jailed for two years yesterday after he was found guilty of stealing a decoder from a bar during the operative period of a suspended sentence.

The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Pierre Buttigieg, from Gzira, was found guilty of stealing the decoder from Billy’s Bar and Restaurant, Mellieha on 1 November 2004.

Buttigieg also stole cash and other goods from the same establishment to the detriment of David Bonanno.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera said the accused had been given a number of chances to reform after he was found guilty of relapsing. He had been found guilty of drug possession, theft, causing slight injuries and using violence on public officials.

The magistrate declared that Buttigieg still had not learnt from his past mistakes.

Police Inspectors Carmelo Magri and Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.