James Porteli, 22 of Kalkara was jailed for 18 months and fined €600 after pleading guilty of trafficking heroin. He was caught red handed by the Police on May 31, after passing four sachets to another person in the vicinity of a school or a club where young people meet.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras said that Portelli had admitted his involvement before the sentence was read out, but she added that “he still wasted the court’s time.”

The court said his past record includes him being found guilty on another occasion in connection to drugs.

In court it was found that the drugs were sold to Alessio Polidano where the police said that Polidano bought the four packets with 2.4 grams of heroin for a mere €10. There was also no evidence on the purity of the drug found.

The defence said that Portelli is suffering from a condition that is affecting his self-esteem, and that he undergoes occasional low mood because of his condition.  

According to his doctor his condition makes him crave for drugs and that is way he has to undergo for self-medication of illicit substances for his disability, to make him feel better.