17-year-old homeless boy jailed for nine months

A homeless 17-year-old boy who is addicted to inhaling lighter gas, was this morning jailed for nine months, and given a telling-off by Magistrate Neville Camilleri, after he was charged with stealing from cars in Floriana.

The boy, who has been abandoned by his parents, and living in a YMCA shelter was placed under probation twice, the last one only last week by the same Magistrate.

"I warned you last week that I was giving you the last chance," Magistrate Camilleri told the boy, who shrugged his shoulders in apparent defiance.

With three social workers in the courtroom, the boy was assisted by legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace who pleaded with the court to understand that this was a "genuine social case."

"I don't know what else to say. This boy has absolutely nobody to take care of him. He doesn't even own the clothes he is wearing," Micallef Stafrace said.

Handing judgement, Magistrate Camilleri said that he couldn't allow the boy to defy orders given to him by the court.

"I cannot accept the fact that you ignored the chance I gave you last week to reform yourself. Perhaps during these nine months you will have ample time to reflect on what future you want for yourself. You will be followed by probation officers during your time in jail, and even when you are out, and I will jail you for two more years should you commit another crime during that time," the Magistrate warned.

When leaving the courtroom, the boy was heard muttering comments to the Magistrate.

He was handcuffed and escorted to the holding cells beneath the courts and later transferred to Corradino Prisons.