A 30-year-old Żurrieq man was today jailed for 42 months after being convicted of stealing a car during the operative term of a suspended sentence.

Steven Farrugia stole a Kia Avella at 11pm on December 16, 2012, belonging to his friend, Christian Grima, minutes after they were drinking together at a bar in Marsa and had even bought each other a drink.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri heard how the car was unlocked and was started by using wires under the steering wheel.

He also heard how Mr Farrugia had crashed the car into a wall as he drove off. The cost to repair the damage was around €1,500, which is more than the car’s insured value.

Mr Farrugia was found guilty of stealing the car, damaging it, driving it without a licence or insurance cover and breaching an 18-month suspended sentence. The court jailed him for 24 months for this theft and added the 18 months which had been previously suspended, for a total of 42 months in jail.

Police Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted. 

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