A 42-year-old man from Birkirkara today was jailed for almost three years after he admitted to stealing a suitcase from a car nine years ago. The theft took place on 23 November 2005 in Triq Marbat, Sliema.

The case took so long because the accused, Shone Agius, failed to appear in court between January 2007 and 2012 and the prosecution was also mostly missing.

The charges were finally read out in court after both parties turned up. The accused chose to enter a guilty plea, admitting to stealing the suitcase, receiving stolen items and relapsing. Inspector Daniel Zammit had exhibited CCTV footage of the theft. He said the accused was easily identifiable. The car was not damaged.

The case was delayed for a second time as the accused failed to turn up in court for a number of years. When the case resumed a probation officer told the court that Mr Agius was showing a positive attitude and was involved in prison work. He had also done well in his drug rehabilitation course and had not committed any other crimes.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman noted these remarks but said she had no choice but to jail the accused seeing that he had admitted to the charges. A two-year suspended sentence became effective and the accused was jailed a further 11 months over the theft.