Man jailed 26 months after stealing mother's car

A 23-year-old man has been jailed for 26 months after stealing his mother’s car and leaving her on the ground outside a police station in Birżebbuġa.

Luke Cremona was sentenced after being found guilty of a number of charges arising from a series of incidents in June 2024.

The court heard how, on 19 June 2024, Cremona was travelling with his mother and his girlfriend when an argument broke out between him and the latter.

His mother told the court that Cremona had been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time.

After driving to Birżebbuġa, she headed towards the police station as the argument continued. Cremona got out of the vehicle and approached his girlfriend, prompting his mother to also leave the car and attempt to make her way towards the police station while carrying her handbag and car keys.

She testified that her son pushed her from behind, causing her to fall face-first onto the ground.

Cremona then took the keys to her Peugeot 107, which also included keys to her home and apartment block, and drove away.

Members of the public alerted police after seeing the woman on the ground. Officers arrived at the scene, but Cremona had already driven away.

The vehicle was discovered abandoned later that evening in Triq il-Biċċerija, Marsa.

CCTV footage showed two people inside the car arguing shortly after it was parked, with the driver later seen damaging a side mirror. A woman was then seen leaving the vehicle.

The car was subsequently examined by forensic officers, who documented damage to the driver’s side mirror and reddish stains on the vehicle.

Cremona’s mother later told the court that the damage to the car was so extensive that a mechanic advised her it was not worth repairing. She estimated the repairs at around €3,000.

Incident at mother’s home a day earlier

The court also heard that the incident came just one day after Cremona had caused extensive damage inside his mother’s Żurrieq home.

Police had been called to the residence on 18 June following reports of a disturbance.

When Cremona’s mother arrived and allowed officers inside, they found several damaged items, including a television, vacuum cleaner, furniture, a cat scratching pole, rug and other household objects. The damage amounted to €2,485.

Cremona was arrested but was granted police bail the following morning so that he could attend a scheduled meeting with his probation officer.

During a subsequent home visit, probation officer Maryrose Farrugia testified that Cremona was highly agitated and took out a pipe used to consume cocaine, prompting her to immediately terminate the meeting.

Cremona later suggested to his mother that he would pay for the television he had damaged and the two left the house together, eventually leading to the incident in Birżebbuġa.

Cremona admitted to drug problems

During his police statement, Cremona admitted having a drug problem but repeatedly denied assaulting his mother or taking her keys.

“I never touched my mother, and I will never touch my mother,” he told investigators.

However, when he later chose to testify during the proceedings, his version of events changed several times.

He admitted taking and driving the car but initially claimed he had taken the keys from his mother’s handbag at home.

Later, after being confronted with evidence about the Birżebbuġa incident, he said the keys had been left in the ignition and that he drove off after his mother got out of the car.

The court highlighted several inconsistencies in his testimony, with the magistrate at one stage telling him: “Everyone is reminding you, except you.”

Cremona eventually admitted that he had been under the influence of both drugs and alcohol on the day and that he had damaged the car’s side mirror.

He also admitted, after being pressed by the prosecution and the court, that he had driven to Marsa to purchase drugs.

The court described Cremona as an unreliable witness, pointing to the numerous contradictions between his police statement, his testimony and the other evidence before it.

Court rejects argument that taking car was not theft

The defence argued that Cremona’s actions should not amount to theft, but rather the arbitrary exercise of a pretended right.

The court rejected this argument, finding no evidence that Cremona believed he had any right over his mother’s vehicle.

It noted that it was actually Cremona who owed his mother money for the damage he had caused, rather than the other way around.

Although there was no evidence that Cremona intended to sell the vehicle or obtain a financial profit from it, the court explained that the gain required for theft does not necessarily have to be monetary. The benefit he obtained from taking and using the vehicle was sufficient to establish the necessary intention for theft, the court said.

It also rejected the possibility that the case amounted merely to temporary unauthorised use of the car, noting that Cremona did not return it but instead abandoned it in Marsa after damaging it.

The court therefore found the theft charge proven, although it ruled that one of the alleged aggravating factors, theft by means, had not been established because the keys used were not false keys.

Mother asked court to drop case

During proceedings in March 2026, Cremona’s mother told the court that she had forgiven her son and wanted the criminal proceedings against him to stop.

She said they had resolved their differences and that Cremona had reimbursed her for the damage, including €3,000 for the car.

She also told the court that she believed her son regretted what he had done and would not have behaved in that way had he not been under the influence of drugs.

The court, however, explained that her decision could only affect offences which depended on a complaint from the injured party.

Several of the charges, including theft, causing fear of violence and criminal damage, could continue regardless of whether Cremona’s mother wished to pursue the case.

The court consequently acquitted Cremona of the charges of slightly injuring, insulting and assaulting his mother.

Court orders investigation after courtroom admission

The judgment also recounts an unusual exchange which took place while Cremona’s mother was giving evidence.

She told the court that while her son was in prison, he had offered to allow her to withdraw money from his bank account.

Cremona then interrupted her testimony from the dock, saying: “If you don’t testify, I’ll give you the money.”

When the magistrate questioned what he had just said, Cremona confirmed: “That’s what I told her.”

The magistrate immediately ordered the matter to be investigated.

Rehabilitation efforts considered

In determining punishment, the court took into account Cremona’s efforts to address his drug addiction.

His probation officer testified that he had shown a willingness to undergo rehabilitation, while a psychologist who had been following him in prison said he had cooperated and attended sessions aimed at helping him deal with difficult situations without resorting to drugs or gambling.

Caritas representatives also told the court that Cremona had expressed an interest in entering a residential rehabilitation programme.

However, the court also heard that Cremona had received 10 disciplinary reports while in prison since July 2025, including for disobeying officers, fighting and possessing prohibited items.

The court also considered his criminal record, noting that he had previously been convicted of similar offences and had failed to learn from opportunities previously given to him to avoid imprisonment.

26 months in prison

The court ultimately acquitted Cremona of six of the 12 charges against him. He was also cleared of two charges relating to breaching bail conditions after the prosecution failed to exhibit the relevant bail decree, as well as a charge of breaching a protection order after the court found that the evidence did not establish the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

Cremona was nevertheless found guilty of the remaining charges, including aggravated theft of his mother’s vehicle, causing her to fear violence, criminal damage to the vehicle and her home, driving without insurance and failing to comply with police bail.

He was sentenced to 26 months in prison, from which any time already spent in preventive custody in connection with the case is to be deducted.

The court also disqualified Cremona from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presided over the court.