A Somali man was yesterday jailed less than 12 hours after he was caught red-handed trying to break into a house in Marsa while the family was sleeping inside.

Bashir Abdulahi Ahmed, 31, was caught by sharp-eyed Rapid Intervention Unit police who were patrolling the area at 2.15am yesterday.

Before Magistrate Gabriella Vella, the accused said he was too drunk to remember what happened in the morning so he pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.

Mr Bashir said he had no job and although he was registered as a Marsa Open Centre resident, he had no fixed address.

The court heard that the front door lock to the house in Marsa Crossroads had been damaged.

He was jailed for eight months for the attempted theft. He also saw a two-year suspended jail term over a theft in September of last year brought into effect.

Police Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted while lawyer Benjamin Valenzia appeared as counsel to Mr Abdulahi Ahmed.