Two thieves convicted of breaking in at Msida restaurant

A 21-year-old youth from Hamrun and a 40-year-old man from Valletta were this morning reprimanded and convicted of attempted theft after pleading guilty to breaking-in at a restaurant in Msida during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The court heard how on Tuesday, the accused, Daryl Pace and Nicholas Fenech,  were spotted trying to break-in at Medo Grill in Triq il Mons Dandria, Msida at around 2:06am. District police were subsequently called in to the scene of the crime, and discovered that the the shop’s window had been broken into.

Investigators were also informed that the accused had fled the scene of the crime in a red Mazda 323. The car was later found in Pace’s street, while Pace’s mother was identifed as being the owner of the car.

A search in the car yielded a screwdriver, a wheel spanner, a crowbar, a pair of gloves, two caps, cannabis seeds, as well as rifle bullets.

Standing before Magistrate Josette Demicoli this afternoon, 21-year-old Daryl Pace and 40-year-old Nicholas Fenech admitted to the attempted theft, and to causing €100 in damage to the restaurant’s window.  

In its decree, the court noted that in March, 21-year-old Daryl Pace was handed a two year imprisonment term suspended for four years for another offence.

While warning Pace against committing another crime, presiding Magistrate Josette Demicoli found the youth guilty of the charges and of committing the crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence. Describing her sentence as Pace's "last chance," Magistrate Demicoli extended the youth's suspended sentence, meaning that the operative period will restart as of today.

On his part, Pace’s partner in crime, 40-year-old Nicholas Fenech was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for two years. The court also ordered the men to pay back the €100 worth of damage to the restaurant owner within a month.

Inspector Jason Sultana prosecured, while Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace was legal aid.