A drug addict who started a rehabilitation programme but could not kick the habit was yesterday jailed for a year after admitting he tried to steal a car stereo.

Christopher Scerri, 32, from Senglea, pleaded guilty to attempting to break into a Peugeot 106 parked in St Anthony Square, Paola, on Thursday at about 9am.

He admitted damaging the vehicle’s locks, worth about €75, and attempting to steal the car stereo that cost €120.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona was told Mr Scerri had started a residential drug rehabilitation programme but then left to live with his girlfriend. Once he was out of the ‘protected’ area, he resorted to substance abuse again.

“You really have to have willpower if you want to get rid of this problem once and for all,” the magistrate told Mr Scerri. “Your future is entirely in your hands.”

One charge brought against him was committing a crime during the operative term of a previous court judgment and relapsing.

The magistrate told Mr Scerri he could have been jailed for four years, but sentenced him to one, imploring him to get his life back on the right track.

“I can assure you, no magistrate enjoys sending people to prison but when we have our hands tied by the law, we have no option,” he said.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted.

Lawyer Kris Busietta appeared for the accused.