A man, whose criminal record was described as "a book", was yesterday jailed for six months for trying to burgle a house in Mellieha last summer.

Joseph Cini was jailed after Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how a Mellieha councillor noticed him trying to break into a neighbour's house in July last year.

Envin Bartolo explained that on July 17 he was in the balcony of his Mellieha house when he noticed a man walk into his neighbour's villa.

Mr Bartolo then heard the rustling of leaves and what sounded like the squeaking of a sliding door and decided to phone his neighbour and the police. Mr Bartolo then went into his car to ensure he would follow the intruder once he left his neighbour's house.

When the intruder emerged, Mr Bartolo tried to speak to him and got out of the car but the man ran away before the police arrived on the scene.

The magistrate also heard how Mr Bartolo identified the intruder as Mr Cini when he was later shown photographs at the police headquarters. He also identified him during a police line-up. Consequently, Mr Cini was arraigned.

On handing down judgement, she noted that Mr Cini had no fewer than 32 convictions on his criminal record and was a relapser. She jailed him for six months.

Police Inspector Silvio Valletta prosecuted.