Judge gives drug abuser another chance

Mr Justice David Scicluna opted to take a second chance and offer a drug abuser the possibility of changing his life.

Presiding over an appeal filed by Stanley Spiteri, who had been imprisoned for 18 months after breaching the conditions of a suspended jail term, Mr Justice Scicluna noted that Mr Spiteri had been found guilty of theft of a pair of car speakers, damaging people's property and relapsing.

Several officials from Sedqa, the agency working with drug abusers, testified that Mr Spiteri was making efforts to mend his ways and had registered progress.

Mr Justice Scicluna said the court was willing to reform the sentence by giving him a probation order but Mr Spiteri had to follow a residential drug rehabilitation programme.

To ensure that Mr Spiteri would have a deterrent, the court said the suspended jail term would remain effective for three years from now.