Three-year jail term over a string of thefts

Noel Farrugia, 32 of Gzira, was handed a three-year imprisonment after being found guilty of thefts, threatening people and damaging properties belonging to his victims.

Prosecuting officer Sandra Zammit  told the court that Farrugia was charged with three thefts, damaging private property, injuring two people and threatening others. All crimes were committed on 14 April 2011, in Qormi.

At around 5:30am the accused stole a handbag from Teresa Carmela Cassar and attempted to steal that of Maria Edwards. In the same morning he also damaged a vehicle belonging to Jason Vella. He was also charged with threatening and injuring 75-year-old Teresa Carmela Cassar and Maria Edwards and relapsing.

Taking the witness stand, victim Jason Vella said he saw the accused trying to open his vehicle and immediately called the police. At the same time, Farrugia was seen putting on a crash helmet and assault Maria Edwards.

Investigations also revealed that the accused and his partner Miriam Azzopardi were at that time guests of a certain Francis Degiorgio. At around 7am Degiorgio left his residence but when he returned at 11:30am, his residence in Triq Pinto had been ransacked and a DVD had gone missing. The victim told officers he suspected in the accused.

Investigators searched for Farrugia but his mother informed them he was not at home. However the following morning, the accused's mother called the police telling them her son was at home but that he had ingested some pills and needed to be taken to hospital.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke found the accused Noel Farrugia guilty and imprisoned him for three years. The court seized €5,500 in deposit and personal guarantee, which the accused had deposited as bail in separate proceedings.