A drug addict was yesterday granted an unusual request by a court: to be allowed more time to sign the bail book during the day so he would be able to sleep in.

Roderick Cilia, 37, of Senglea, an unemployed, self-declared drug addict and repeat offender, was arraigned under arrest after he was caught in possession of cocaine and heroin at a roadblock on Tuesday evening. He was also charged with assaulting police constable Nathan Bugeja at the roadblock.

His request brought a smile to the face of Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, who instead of making Mr Cilia sign the bail book between 9am and 12pm three times a week, gave him until 7pm.

“This is so that you can sleep in and wake up energised after a long sleep,” the magistrate quipped.

When asked by the court what he did in life, Mr Cilia replied he did not work, except for a few odd jobs here and there repairing computers and mobile phones.

Police Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted, while lawyer Albert Zerafa was defence counsel.