Two men were arraigned and sentenced early this afternoon after admitting to having attempted to break into a private residence in St Venera last Saturday night.

The two were arrested after neighbours heard noises from the residence and alerted the police. 

Raymond Spiteri, 57, from Marsa, and Costantino Gouder, 36, from Valletta, both pleaded guilty to attempted theft and to having damaged the front door of the house targeted in the failed burglary.

Mr Gouder was further charged with having been in possession of tools which could possibly be used to commit a forced entry. He was also charged with having committed the offence during the operative period of an earlier suspended sentence.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale noted that Mr Spiteri, a delivery man, had no criminal record and had filed an early guilty plea. For this reason, the court confirmed his guilt and condemned him to a one year jail term suspended for four years.

Turning to Mr Gouder, a fisherman and a cleaner, who likewise pleaded guilty to all the charges, the court noted that the man had an 18-month jail term from a previous suspended sentence delivered last December by a magistrate's court.

The court condemned Mr Gouder to 12 months in prison which, in addition to the other 18 months under the former suspended sentence totalled 30 months in jail. At the request of the defence, the court recommended that the prison authorities give the accused all the help needed to overcome his drug problem.

Surrounded by tearful relatives at the end of the hearing, Mr Gouder timidly raised his hand asking "May I apply for a drug rehabilitation programme?" "Yes, of course. We have done what we can, now it is up to you," remarked the magistrate.

Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted.

Lawyer Gianluca Cappitta was counsel to Mr Spiteri.

Lawyer Josette Sultana was counsel to Mr Gouder.