12-month jail term over theft of tools

Drug addict Mathew Piscopo, 38 of Floriana, was handed a 12-month jail term after pleading guilty to the theft of gardening tools.

The theft occurred early morning at 5:30am on 25 July, where Piscopo stole a number of tools belonging to Clint Galea and the Environmental Landscapes Consortium.

The court considered the early guilty plea registered by the accused and the fact that Piscopo had collaborated with the police. The stolen items were returned to their rightful owners.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras  imprisoned Piscopo for 12 months, to be served at the Mount Carmel Forensic Unit due to medical issues. The accused suffers from epilepsy.

The court also ordered that Piscopo follows a drug rehabilitation programme at the earliest.

Piscopo had already been found guilty of drug possession for which he was imprisoned for 11 months.