A 33-year-old man from Qormi who used two fake €100 notes to buy various items including a heart-shaped wreath on Fathers’ Day two years ago was given a one-year jail term suspended for three years.

Darren Mizzi told the court he was battling with heroin addiction. He was also placed under the supervision of a probation officer for three years to ensure he had support in his fight against the drug problem.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard that, on June 16, 2013, Mr Mizzi used a fake €100 to buy the wreath and a Vodafone card from The Rose Shop, in Qormi, at about 1pm. He then headed to a bar, Gammika, in the same locality and used another fake €100 bill to buy some soft drinks, a packet of cigarettes and other items.

The owners of both shops realised the money was fake because it was smoother than usual and they informed the police who arrested Mr Mizzi.

In a statement to the police, Mr Mizzi said he had a drug addiction problem and had bought the drugs and the fake cash from a man.

However, he said he was not aware that the money he used that day was fake because he had just been refunded some money that had been deposited at the law courts over another court case.

The court heard a probation officer testify that Mr Mizzi appeared to be committed to turn his life around and attend a residential drug rehabilitation programme.

The magistrate said she could not order Mr Mizzi to start the programme immediately because for him to be eligible his methadone dose had to be below 50ml. It would take about two months for it to drop to that dosage from the current 90ml he was taking, she noted.

The magistrate also pointed out that Mr Mizzi had previous convictions that included theft and living off the earnings of prostitution. Still, the magistrate felt he deserved one last chance to change his ways and kick his drug habit.

Apart from the suspended sentence and the supervision order, the court ruled he had to refund the two shop owners.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted.