A repentant drug addict was given a suspended jail term yesterday after he admitted to heroin and cocaine possession. Acting on a tip-off, the police caught Mark Anthony Ellul, 24, in his car together with another man on Tuesday evening.

Defence lawyer Michael Sciriha and Police Inspectors Raymond Cassar and Johann Fenech approached the bench to speak to the Magistrate Michael Mallia after Mr Ellul pleaded guilty.

Dr Sciriha asked the court to take into consideration the fact that his client had a clean police record and that he helped the police in their investigations, a point which the officers agreed on.

The court was also told that the accused started taking drugs after hanging out with the wrong crowd.

After taking into account his age and the arguments put forward by the defence lawyer, the court decided to impose a two-year jail term suspended for four years and ordered that he attends a drug rehabilitation programme.

The court also gave a stern warning to Mr Ellul, adding that he would be assigned a probation officer and would be locked up immediately if he did not obey orders.

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