A man who stole a safe containing some Lm8,000 (€18,400) from a Mosta residence in 2004 and was condemned to a two-year jail term, has had his term reduced by three months after the victims forgave him and he said he was returning some of the money.

The court of appeal noted that the accused Martin Pirotta had filed his admission before the first court late in the proceedings,. He also had also violated the conditions of previous court sentences.

The first court had noted how a probation officer had reported that since committing the crime, the accused had stayed away from drugs, had held down a job and was now more involved in the raising of his children.

The first court, however, had been required to impose a jail term because he had relapsed.

Following the sentence of the first court, Mr Pirotta produced a note dated December 12, 2012 where it was said that he had paid the victims €2,000 and the victims were forgiving him.

In its considerations, the appeals court said Mr Pirotta had only paid back part of the money he had stolen and this act of generosity was aimed at him avoiding jail. The court, however, confirmed the judgement of the first court while reducing the prison term to one year and nine months.