An addict ended a legal rollercoaster with a suspended jail term yesterday. But only after the original suspended sentence he was given was turned into an effective jail term and suspended again.

The 26-year-old, Tristan Falzon was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years in 2004 for stealing €2,233 from his father, but that was turned into a jail term in January after the prosecution appealed the sentence.

The presiding Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, in converting that suspended jail term into an effective one, had highlighted the fact that the man had stopped a drug rehabilitation programme when half way through the process.

Mr Falzon appealed the second sentence and the court then took into consideration a social worker's report where it was said that he had since enrolled into another programme and had successfully completed the first phase.

The court, presided by Judge David Scicluna, said that Mr Falzon has to continue the progress he has made over the last year and take full advantage of any opportunities given to him by the courts.

Converting the two-year jail term into a four suspended sentence, the court also placed him under a strict supervision order.