Tourist handed suspended sentence after admitting mobile phone theft

Ludivine Greca, a French womabn who works as a telephone operator, pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone from the 777 Vapes and Spirits establishment in St Paul's Bay.

Greca was on holiday in Malta.

The 52-year-old was charged with theft aggravated by value, with the value of the stolen property not exceeding €2,329.37.

The court heard the stolen mobile phone was recovered and returned to the police, meaning no compensation was required.

In view of Greca's early guilty plea, her cooperation with the police and the recovery of the stolen property, the prosecution said it was not insisting on an effective prison sentence. Greca was found guilty on her own admission and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

The prosecution was led by Inspectors Ivan Mifsud and Diane Agius together with Attorney General lawyer Neville Galea.

Magistrate Lara Lanfranco presided over the case.