Sunglasses thief gets 18 months

A Libyan man who admitted to stealing a pair of designer sunglasses from a parked car in Valletta and attempting to break into another car, has been jailed for 18 months.

39-year-old Kaled Mukthar Ben Gamhur, from Libya, was arraigned under arrest before magistrate Antonio Vella last month, accused of stealing a pair of sunglasses from a parked car in Valletta and attempting to break into a second vehicle, causing damage to both cars.

Police dispatched to Girolamo Cassar street in Valletta had caught him in flagrante, while still carrying the freshly stolen sunglasses.

Ben Gamhur has seven previous convictions for crimes which include theft, and had just left prison when at the time of his arrest.

Despite initially denying the charges, he later changed his plea to one of guilt.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke jailed the man for 18 months, also ordering him to pay his two victims €42 each.

Inspector Priscilla Caruana prosecuted.