Couple jailed for Sliema beach thefts

A couple have been jailed for stealing mobile phones from a Sliema beach to fund their drug habit after a court noted that they had wasted several chances to treat their addiction.

Inspector Jonathan Ransley arraigned Jade Jones and Johansson Spiteri, aged 30 and 27 respectively, under arrest and charged them with stealing two mobile phones and two handbags from Qui-si-sana bay in Sliema on the 9th of August. Spiteri alone was also charged with relapsing. The pair pleaded guilty to all charges.

Whilst they were waiting for the magistrate to arrive in the courtroom, Jones suddenly became very emotional and had to be restrained, seemingly rocked by the realisation that she was heading back to prison and fearing for the safety of her three children. Her misery was very real and painful to watch.

Inspector Ransley told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja that both accused had been given plenty of chances to reform and had not taken them, having failed to complete no less than 7 drug rehabilitation programmes. He asked the court to impose a custodial sentence because the couple would not succeed in quitting their habit alone.

The couple’s probation officer also testified, reporting that no progress had been made. She said that Jones had started a course at university but had subsequently started using heroin and cocaine again, missing their appointments. A subsequent stint in a residential drug rehab program was unsuccessful. “Caritas have a plan for her, but her issues can only be addressed in the programme which she has not shown an interest in attending, other than sporadically,” said the officer.

Jones’ legal aid lawyer Patrick Valentino suggested that the court consider a minimum punishment in view of her cooperation with the police and her early admission.

Lawyer Geoffrey Vella, appearing for Spiteri, drew the attention of the court to the fact that they had committed the thefts only to support their shared drug habit and not because they were “common delinquents.”

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja jailed Spiteri for three years and fined him €1000, whilst Jones was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. With respect to both, the magistrate recommended the director of prisons to ensure that they follow a rehabilitation programme.