A man who was arrested after a chase at St Paul's Bay on Saturday was jailed on Monday after being convicted of drug possession.

The court was told that police officers had gone to Fra Ben point in response to a separate report. While there, they noticed Nigerian-born John Gabiriel, 37, acting suspiciously. As soon as he noticed the officers approach, Mr Gabiriel dashed off and was seen throwing away a bag.

Policemen arrested him shortly after.

The bag was found to contain 27 sachets of cannabis and a considerable amount of empty plastic sachets, the court was told.

Mr Gabiriel pleaded guilty and his defence lawyer, Mark Mifsud Cutajar, pointed out that he had cooperated fully with the police. He also told the court that his client  was currently homeless and had had no previous brush with the law.

However, the prosecution argued for an effective jail term, pointing out that the accused had originally landed in Lampedusa and had moved to Malta in search of a job.

Magistrate Rachel Montebello condemned him to a nine-month effective jail term.