A man who had been convicted of stealing less than €2,000 worth of items from a a restaurant in 2001, today had his six month jail term converted to community service.

Mr Justice David Scicluna found that Anton Vassallo had reformed himself and was not a threat to society. He was being helped by a probation officer to live up to his responsibilities, and society therefore had nothing to gain from jailing him.

He was instead ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.

Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.