Young repeat offender jailed
A 17-year-old boy today pleaded guilty to stealing from cars and was jailed for nine months after a Magistrate noted that he had ignored previous chances to reform.
The court heard how the boy is a resident at the YMCA and has an addiction to lighter fluid.
Magistrate Neville Camilleri also that the accused had already been previously arraigned before him.
Legal aid lawyer, Simon Micallef Stafrace asked for a "last chance" for his client. He added that the items stolen were of minimal value.
The Magistrate noted that since July the accused had been arraigned three times.
Dr Micallef Stafrace said that prison was not the ideal solution here, but the Magistrate said that he already warned the accused about his situation just last week.
Police Inspector Daniel Zammit said the accused did not appear to want help.
The Magistrate in delivering sentence took into consideration that the accused had breached a probation order and had not learnt his lesson.
In condemning him to a nine-month prison term, he said that the young man could still be able to access help through the Probation Service.
The Magistrate also told the accused that he was only 17 and he needed to take the opportunity to put his life on the right track.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
22 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
carmen coleiro
Nov 16th 2012, 17:19
With all respect to the Magistrate, I believe that a sentence committing this 17 year old to do community work for a period of time and being monitored by a social worker would have done him more good......
Being sent to prison only means that the little positive you have left inside you can be easily distructed by the horrendous day to day living between those walls.
Charlie DeBattista
Nov 16th 2012, 16:24
Did the young man have any opportunities which help him reform? Did he have any help from anyone? A 17 year old in YMCA is a gap in our services and a mistake derived from our own social values. Sending him to prison and not a separate minor's unit is another gap in our services!
Peter spiteri
Nov 16th 2012, 15:18
Is lighter fuel that expensive,you have to steal?!!!
Luciano Chetcuti
Nov 16th 2012, 14:54
Wiehed irid jara r-raguni ghaliex qed isiru dawn l-atti kriminali min ckunithom. Ta' 17-il sena ma nahsibx li pprova jfittex ix-xoghol u ma sabx. Pjuttost nahseb li n-nuqqas ta' dixxiplina u zjieda fil-fsied tat-tfal qed jaghmilhom persuni njuranti, arroganti, vjolenti. U sakemm ghadhom taht 18-il sena, huma responsabbli taghhom il-genituri u dawn suppost jaghmlu tajjeb ghal uliedhom.
Charles Muscat
Nov 17th 2012, 05:36
Naqbel mijek imma tatix it tort lil genituri ghax ma jistax ikun toqod mat tifel 24 sigha kuljum.
Brian Fenech
Nov 16th 2012, 14:50
We need to introduce BOOT CAMPS!!!!!
Keith Zerafa
Nov 16th 2012, 14:11
and than they want to the right to vote in the council election
Michael Camileri
Nov 16th 2012, 13:41
Maybe he needs help.. to reform.
Age 17, I did not have a clue!
Mr Conrad V. Busuttil
Nov 16th 2012, 15:05
Your comment is highly uncalled for and offensive towards the generation of the 17-year-olds in Malta, most of whom are either still at school investing in their careers, or already on-the-job trying to shape their future and who should be already considered mature enough to cast their votes in a democracy.
How many similar cases of 17-year-olds have you read about of late, Mr Camilleri
Antoine Zammit
Nov 16th 2012, 13:38
A Jail Sentence + Valid and Contributive Community work is an ideal sentence, since it would serve as a detterrent and as a chance to reform... plus a way to pay society back for one's mistakes... Just a personal opinion.....
C Calafato
Nov 16th 2012, 13:28
good job. if these young criminals are let to run free they think they can go on doing it.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 16th 2012, 15:51
It is not a 'good job'. Believe me, it is not.
C Calafato
Nov 16th 2012, 18:49
why franco? illuminani int plz!
Manuel Mangani
Nov 16th 2012, 13:22
Condemning a 17-year old to prison is tantamount to condemning him to a lif-time of deviancy. One undertsands the Magistarte's position in the face of apparent bloody-minded defiance, but prison will do nothing to help this young man.
When is that sorely-required secure unit for minors going to be set up?
George Busuttil
Nov 16th 2012, 13:05
Can anyone please give more details about what were the chances to reform this young man was given?
Charles Miceli
Nov 16th 2012, 12:58
Of course prison is not the ideal solution, especially for 17 year olds. We need alternatives urgently.
mark johnson
Nov 16th 2012, 13:20
But the police, courts and prison will need criminals in the future else they go out of business.
Prison is the best place to learn.
Charles Miceli
Nov 16th 2012, 14:35
@Mark Johnson: excuse me, but learn what?
Charles Miceli
Nov 16th 2012, 14:35
@Mark Johnson: excuse me, but learn what?
Lino Parascandalo
Nov 16th 2012, 14:35
mind you Mr Miceli that when someone like this 17 year old is acquitted to jail he is not left to render attitude from other inmates which are sentenced on much more serious cases but to a section called Y.O.U.R.S young offenders unit rehabilitation section
so in my opinion bought the police of course and the law courts are doing a mighty good job sending these youngsters to this lets say
Charles Miceli
Nov 16th 2012, 15:28
The Court and the Police are doing their job, of course. But we surely need to start dealing with young offenders in a different way. The history of repeat offenders shows that something is not working 100%.
And by the way, YOURS is part of prison and is run by the prison officials. We need a new vision,and we have to create alternatives. I believe in a different set up for persons under 18.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 16th 2012, 15:50
Mr Parascandalo, ... I fail to understand your message.
Please choose the reason of your report below: