A 17-year-old boy today pleaded guilty to stealing from cars and was jailed for nine months after a Magistrate noted that he had ignored previous chances to reform.

The court heard how the boy is a resident at the YMCA and has an addiction to lighter fluid.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri also that the accused had already been previously arraigned before him.

Legal aid lawyer, Simon Micallef Stafrace asked for a "last chance" for his client. He added that the items stolen were of minimal value.

The Magistrate noted that since July the accused had been arraigned three times.

Dr Micallef Stafrace said that prison was not the ideal solution here, but the Magistrate said that he already warned the accused about his situation just last week.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit said the accused did not appear to want help.

The Magistrate in delivering sentence took into consideration that the accused had breached a probation order and had not learnt his lesson.

In condemning him to a nine-month prison term, he said that the young man could  still be able to access help through the Probation Service.

The Magistrate also told the accused that he was only 17 and he needed to take the opportunity to put his life on the right track.