In“acts of youthful madness”, a teenager destroyed about 50 emergency lights placed for security purposes during roadworks in Żabbar.

The Żabbar youth, who was 17 at the time he committed the offences in July and August 2009, reached out of a car driven by his friend and smashed one emergency light after another. He destroyed 27 in St Anthony Street and another 19 in Villabate Street.

As if that were not enough, he also took three of the devices from Paola, Ċirkewwa and Fgura to keep as souvenirs. Magistrate Gabriella Vella noted that the teenager was not a criminal and had no previous convictions, describing the smashing spree as more of “an act of youthful madness” than the result of criminal intent.

She took into consideration the fact that the youth had paid for all the damage caused.

He was conditionally discharged for two years.

The youth’s name is not being published since he was still underage when he committed the offence.