A drug addict who stole about €4,000 worth of gold jewellery from two houses to fuel his addiction was yesterday jailed for two years as he stood in the dock holding a copy of a Maltese magazine on crime.

The publication, Delitti u Misteri (crimes and mysteries), features British serial killer Harold Shipman on the front cover.

Defence lawyer, Chris Cardona, told the court that his client, Etienne Micallef, 36, from Qormi, wanted to reform.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit noted that, by law, Mr Micallef would have to be jailed for a minimum of two years in order to be entitled to a residential drug rehabilitation programme.

Once the discussion on the term to be served was over, Mr Micallef admitted to stealing jewellery from a house in Żejtun on October 1 and from another house in Rabat on September 13.

He also pleaded guilty to relapsing.

He was jailed for two years and the magistrate sent a recommendation to the prisons director for him to enter a drug rehabilitation programme.

Police Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Priscilla Caruana prosecuted.

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