Leonardo Palacios, 19, from Madrid, leaving court yesterday. Photo: Chris Sant FournierA Colombian former English language student has been jailed for seven months after he admitted to stealing a handbag and relapsing.
Leonardo Palacios, 19, from Madrid, had been arraigned two weeks ago. He admitted to the possession of a cannabis joint, for which he was fined €500.
In the arraignment yesterday, Mr Palacios admitted stealing a handbag from a woman in a night club in Paceville in the early hours of Friday morning. He also admitted handling stolen property because he sold the items in the bag and relapsing because of his single previous conviction.
Mr Palacios arrived in Malta two months ago and did an English language course before he decided to stay on the island.
The fact two crimes were committed within the space of two months, he had relapsed and the items not being returned did not help his case.
Aided by an interpreter and legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace, Mr Palacios stood in the dock in a T-shirt and shorts before sheepishly entering a guilty plea.
Magistrate Audrey Demicoli jailed him for seven months.