A 25-year-old Fgura man who was yesterday found guilty of theft from a girl guides’ centre got a lifeline from a magistrate who felt he seemed to have changed his ways.

Ian Mizzi was within the terms of a conditional discharge from a previous offence when, aged 19, he broke into the property of the Fgura girl guides in May 2009. Accompanied by two friends, he stole soft toys, stationery, a first aid box, trophies, torches and several accessories, all worth about €300.

In a pre-sentencing report, his probation officer noted that Mr Mizzi had a troubled youth, which was amplified by the fact that he frequented a bad group of friends. He had committed no other crimes after the break-in, had ditched the gang and had settled in a stable job.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia considered his guilty plea and argued that the positive developments in Mr Mizzi’s life since he’d committed the crime could not be ignored.

The magistrate said she had enough reasons to “encourage” Mr Mizzi by imposing a punishment that was below the minimum prescribed by law. She thus sentenced him to 100 hours of community work and ordered him to pay a third of the value of the stolen items.

She noted that he had been conditionally discharged in September 2008 for stealing a car’s registration plates and using them on another vehicle. By law, this had to be converted into time in prison but, in view of the probation officer’s recommendations, the magistrate opted for a suspended jail term, urging Mr Mizzi to continue on the right path.

Police Inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted.

Lawyer Stefano Filletti appeared for Mr Mizzi.