A man who had originally been sentenced to 18 months in jail for stealing a cigarette machine was let off on a conditional discharge yesterday after he turned his life around.

Curtis Bakoush and another two men stole the machine from Café de Baron in Valletta and dragged it down St Ursola Street to Victoria Gate, making so much noise that a British tourist came out on to a balcony to see what had happened.

In his appeal judgment, Mr Justice Michael Mallia said that, despite the accused’s criminal past, the court noted that, according to a drug rehabilitation agency Sedqa representative, Mr Bakoush was a changed man with a steady job.

This was to the credit of the agency and other organisations that had helped him.

Mr Justice Mallia hoped he would continue to prove he had reformed himself.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.