One of the most senior magistrates had some useful advice to give to an alcoholic thief who was jailed for a year yesterday.

Joseph Compagno, 29, of Ħamrun, who has a 14-page criminal record, was recognised by Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani as a person who had first experienced the heavy hand of the law as a teenager.

“I know your difficult background but you really have to put the past behind you,” she told him after Mr Compagno admitted to stealing from an employer and slightly injuring the same person.

In her judgment, she said he needed to overcome his bad past and focus on the future.

He needed help because he would not be able to do it on his own.

In the incident, Mr Compagno was tasked with doing manual work in a Cospicua house belonging to Daniel Mercieca. At one point, Mr Mercieca decided to have a nap and left him to it. When he woke up he noticed that Mr Compagno was stealing from the house and the two came to blows, after which Mr Compagno ran away.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone and €250 in cash on Monday.

The magistrate recommended that Mr Compagno receive the necessary help to overcome his drinking problem.

Newly-appointed Police Inspector Frankie Sammut prosecuted.

Lawyer Henry Antonich ap-peared as legal aid.