Updated 5pm with Charles Miceli's reaction

A man who admitted involvement in a drug trafficking case 14 years ago, but has since reformed himself and become an inspiration to others, was jailed for three years today despite appeals for a non-custodial sentence.

William Agius was also fined €3,000 and had his property confiscated. He could have faced between four years and 20 years in prison.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said this was 'a sensible judgement'.

Mr Agius's plight recently made the headlines, even prompting a petition to President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, which gathered thousands of signatures in a matter of days.

Mr Agius was 18 years old, unemployed and in the grip of drug addiction when he was caught red-handed in the middle of a drug deal in Qormi near a primary school. 

Watch: TimesTalk interview with William Agius

Police had swooped on two suspects just as Mr Agius had taken possession of a paper bag handed to him by the driver of a Toyota vehicle.

Inside the bag there were some 2043 ecstasy pills, with a street value of around €28,000, declared to be the greatest ecstasy haul at the time.

Both Mr Agius and his supplier, Geordie Felice, were arrested and charged with conspiracy and trafficking of drugs within 100 metres from a school as well as the aggravated possession of drugs which were clearly not for their personal use.

However, during the pending proceedings, Mr Agius underwent a total transformation, from an unemployed drug-addict to a self-fulfilled man whose story served as an inspiration to many.

Since that day in November 2004, following his arrest, he has kicked his addiction and tested clean for the past 10 years. He has also quit smoking and drinking.

He has even ventured into the world of business, setting up his own restaurant and offering employment to several individuals including former addicts.

A number of witnesses who came into contact with Mr Agius over the years today were called to testify in court. These were Santina Camilleri, who conducted rehabilitation workshops at Caritas at the time when the accused underwent rehabilitation, psychologist Mariella Dimech, and Xarabank presenter Peppi Azzopardi.

READ: Drug laws must be tweaked to avoid ruining lives, magistrate warns

Mr Azzopardi explained how he had been approached by Mr Agius, a volunteer at fundraising charity events, who wished to reveal his story so as to send out a message of hope.

The young man's aim was to resort to the media so that others might be spared a similar fate, namely that of facing years behind bars for a wrong committed many years earlier.

The Xarabank host told the court how, following the programme which brought to light his story, the producers were inundated with calls from addicts who claimed that the man's testimony had spurred them to kick the habit.

There were many individuals enrolled in the Caritas workshops who vouched to have persevered in their course thanks to the inspiration drawn from the reformed addict.

EDITORIAL: Two years after drug reform

Even Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has joined the widespread discussion generated by William’s story, urging fellow politicians to join forces so as to save the man from an effective prison sentence, admitting that the case kept him awake at night.

William was a 'success story'

After the verdict, social justice campaigner Charles Miceli said he was disappointed that Mr Agius was heading to jail.

"We emphasise the need for corrective means, not punishment. Well, William's been through the corrective process and he was a success," said Mr Miceli, who oversaw the accused's recovery at Caritas.

READ: Sedqa, Caritas, Oasi get €15,000 each from drug fines

Asked by Times of Malta if he feared Mr Agius would resort to drugs in jail, Mr Miceli replied: "Yes, there's a danger. There's the feeling of disappointment, he will be away from his family, he will know that his police conduct is stained, so why go through this risk?"

Mr Miceli called for a change in the law, saying that the judge probably had his hands tied, especially because Mr Agius had been caught in the vicinity of a school.

Dr Joseph Giglio was defence counsel. The court was presided over by Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi.