A man with a previous conviction for drug trafficking was jailed again yesterday after he admitted to pushing heroin in February last year.

Addie Magri, 39, of Cospicua, admitted to selling drugs to "a friend of a friend" and taking a dose himself near a bar in Ta' Giorni.

Mr Magri was also charged with committing the crime within 100 metres of a school. He was, however, cleared of this charge after a court architect measured the distance between the area of the bar and the school nearby and found the school to be farther away than 100 metres.

In handing down judgment, Magistrate Lawrence Quintano noted that Mr Magri had other convictions for trafficking and had already been jailed in November 1999. It was clear he had not learnt his lesson.

The magistrate jailed him for 18 months and fined him €2,300.

Police Superintendent Norbert Ciappara and Inspector Johann Fenech prosecuted.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and Veronique Dalli appeared for Mr Magri.