A man with arms covered in black marks from an eight-year history of injecting heroin was yesterday jailed after he admitted to stealing two cars and relapsing.

Bjorn Borg, who looks much older than his 27 years, admitted to stealing a Toyota Hilux and an Opel Vectra between last week and Tuesday. He also admitted to relapsing and driving without a licence.

After legal aid lawyer Adrian Camilleri confirmed his client's guilty plea, Magistrate Silvio Meli asked Mr Borg how bad his drug problem was and he said that he had been on drugs for eight years.

When asked how he had started, he said it was his former girlfriend who had first tempted him to take the drug.

Police Inspector Edmond Cuschieri said that Mr Borg had cooperated with the police and had shown them where the stolen cars were.

Magistrate Silvio Meli jailed him for two years and six months and banned him from driving for five years.