A 19-year-old man who admitted to heroin possession will be carrying out 100 hours of community service after a magistrate noted that he had overcome his drug addiction problem and gone through a life metamorphosis.

The young man, who was a minor at the time of the commission of the crime, was put on probation for two years by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera.

Before moving on to pass judgement the magistrate heard a probation officer explain that the man had shown great progress and a strong will to change his ways.

The court, who always did anything possible to help drug abusers overcome their problem, felt that the teenager deserved a chance and was convinced that his will was sincere.

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud and Simon Galea prosecuted.