Young thief has probation order changed into imprisonment

A young man who had been put on probation for a string of thefts has now been jailed for five years after a judge heard he had breached his probation order.

David Lineker Micallef, 19, had been put on probation for three years for burgling a lotto booth, breaking into five cars and trying to break into a sixth. He had also been found guilty of heroin possession and breaching the conditions of a previous release.

Among the conditions listed in the probation order was one that Mr Micallef had to complete a drug rehabilitation programme. However, last month a probation officer informed the court that the accused had been suspended from the programme because he violated the rules.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, sitting in the Criminal Court, heard that Mr Micallef had initially found it difficult to settle into the rehabilitation programme. When he finally seemed to be getting used to it, something happened that disrupted him and on August 16 he decided to leave.

With some persuasion from his parents, he stayed on but had to struggle. A few days later he left the programme once again, only to return the following day. Alas, he tested positive for heroin and was therefore suspended.

Noting that Mr Micallef had breached the probation order, the judge revoked the original (probation) judgment and, instead, jailed him for five years. The court also ordered that the time Mr Micallef spent in preventive custody be deducted from his jail term.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.