The court of criminal appeals yesterday reduced a jail sentence for a man convicted of drug possession not for personal use after it deemed that the Court of Magistrates exceeded the maximum penalty.

Clive Martin Bartolo, 24, was jailed for seven years and fined e5,823.43 after he had pleaded guilty to possessing ecstacy pills which were not for his personal consumption and cannabis resin.

However, he pleaded not guilty to possessing the drugs 100 metres away from a bocci club as his house was situated close by.

Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano converted the penalty to five years in jail and a fine of e2,329.37.

Lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli appeared for Bartolo.