A Polish man who admitted to stealing a car and driving while drunk today was handed a one year jail term suspended for three years and fined €2,300.

Michael Nowak Lukasz, 33, was charged with stealing a Peugeot car from a garage in St Paul’ Bay, damaging the vehicle, driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving without a licence and insurance and being drunk in public. He pleaded guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Consuelo Herrera had previously heard how the police had intervened after an argument broke out between Mr Lukasz and his sister. When the officers showed up, the accused fled the scene in the stolen car. He was caught after a short car chase during which he crashed the car into some parked vehicles.

The accused’s sister told the court that he had paid the victim €350 for damages to the car. The magistrate considered his guilty plea and the fact that he was a first time offender. She handed down a one year jail term suspended for three years and fined him €2,300. Mr Lukasz was also disqualified from holding a driving a licence for the period of one year.

Legal Aid lawyer Joseph Mizzi appeared for the Pole.