A man’s jail term was converted to 150 hours of community service after a court found he had reformed.

Anton Vassallo, 35, filed an appeal after he had been jailed for six months for stealing cash and items worth up to €2,300 from a Marsascala restaurant in June 2001.

Sitting in the Court of Criminal Appeals, Mr Justice David Scicluna pointed out that punishment had various aims – one was to protect society.

People who were a menace had to be jailed and kept out of circulation while a clear message was sent out to those who committed serious crimes. However, reformation was another aim of punishment, the judge said.

Mr Vassallo’s probation officer testified he had committed the crime at a difficult time in his life. He had been placed under a probation order and was successfully carrying out community service.

Mr Justice Scicluna said Mr Vassallo was back on the right path.

He had made an effort to shoulder his responsibilities and he could not be called a menace to society.

With the help of his probation officer, Mr Vassallo had to continue acting responsibly by repaying his victims and by giving back something to society, he said.