A magistrate told two youths today they were “guaranteed” a long jail term if they persisted in the life of criminality that they had embarked upon.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja warned them that he was giving them a chance to get their life back on track, away from cliques and crime.

He was ruling in a case against James Azzopardi, 25, from Qormi and Jurgen Gatt, 22, from Żebbuġ, who pleaded guilty to the theft of a car early on April 23 last year.

He placed them on probation for three years and ordered them to carry out 100 hours of community work.

“If you continue committing crimes, no one will spare you a guaranteed long jail term. The courts have given you various chances but now it is up to you to grow up and start acting like civilised people. As you surely would not like it if anyone were to steal your property, you must respect others and let them enjoy their belongings,” the magistrate told them.

As he fined Mr Azzopardi €2,400 for driving the stolen vehicle without insurance cover, the magistrate ordered them to pay the theft victim €2,600 and almost €2,000 in court expenses.

Police Inspectors Spiridione Zammit and Robert Vella prosecuted while lawyer Mark Busuttil was defence counsel.