A man who was found guilty of possession of ecstasy almost 11 years ago has been jailed for 10 months and fined €900 despite a pre-sentencing report confirming that he had kicked the habit.

Brady Michael Degiorgio, 30, from Senglea, had been caught in possession of 25 ecstasy pills and a small piece of cannabis resin on July 31, 2004, during a raid by Drug Squad police in Senglea.

He was found guilty of possession of ecstasy 'with intent', despite his claims that the pills were for his exclusive use. He was also found guilty of simple possession of cannabis. 

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras said that although the accused was apprehended in July 2004, the first sitting in court was held in January 2008 and the prosecution rested its case in April 2012.

Between November 2012 and January 2014, the defendant failed to appear in court or else asked for his case to be postponed.

Magistrate Galea Sciberras took into consideration a pre-sentencing social inquiry report which stated that the man had kicked the habit and was now reformed. He passed drug tests and was living a life away from drugs. She jailed him for 10 months and fined him €900. She also ordered him to pay €500 in court expenses.

An appeal has been filed.