Jailed for breaking into band club and stealing

A Valletta man was yesterday jailed for 30 months for breaking into a Valletta band club and stealing money from an amusement machine.

Josef Sharfid, 26, pleaded guilty to stealing over Lm100 in cash from the machine in King's Own club on February 15, causing more than Lm500 damage and relapsing.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how Sharfid decided to burgle the club because he did not have money. He also told police that before he went he had drunk a little and had taken Dalmaine and Valium pills.

He broke a window to get in, then broke the alarm to stop it ringing. Once inside the club Sharfid broke the amusement machine and took the money inside it. He then tried to get away from police who had arrived on the scene and ended up in a shaft.

The magistrate also heard that damage had been caused to another two buildings in the vicinity but since Sharfid had not been charged with damaging them she did not take cognizance of the matter.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera noted that Sharfid had 18 convictions ranging from theft to drug possession listed in his criminal record.

She also heard that he had had drug problems since he was 13 but never followed a rehabilitation programme.

Sharfid's lawyer, Dr José Herrera, also pointed out that he had a difficult upbringing since he was brought up by his grandmother who did not discipline him.

He added that his client had become a criminal because of his social situation.

But the prosecution said society had had enough of Sharfid and that he had not made use of the several chances given to him to change his ways.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera said the court had always done everything possible to help people with drug problems by giving them a chance to overcome their habits.

But in this case she did not feel that Sharfid's wish to overcome the problem was sincere and to be trusted.

She noted that when Sharfid had been granted bail, he showed up for the court sittings dazed and confused and even fell asleep in the court room at times.

But when his bail was revoked he took a turn for the better.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera put Sharfid on probation for three years and recommended to the director of prisons to allow him to start a rehabilitation programme.

Police Inspector David Saliba and Pierre Micallef-Grimaud prosecuted.

Dr José Herrera appeared for the defendant.