Drug addict who targeted elderly women in necklace thefts granted bail

A young drug addict from Mtarfa has been released on bail pending a pre-sentencing report after he admitted to a series of necklace thefts from elderly women.

Former Hamrun Spartans youth team player Jacob Rakban pleaded guilty to five counts of theft, one count of attempted theft and one count of recidivism before magistrate Audrey Demicoli this morning. The arraignment comes just one week after a Cospicua man was jailed for another string of similar thefts.

Rakban, whose victims were all female and aged between 55 and 83, had struck six times in Mosta, Naxxar, San Gwann and Qormi between 13 May and 16 June this year.

The court was told that the youth had since started a preparatory course for admission to San Blas in order to address his drug issues.

The court upheld a joint request by the prosecution and defence, asking that it defer from sentencing until a pre-sentencing report on the accused's drug addiction is completed.

Defence lawyer Benjamin Valenzia requested bail, which the court granted against a personal guarantee of €2,000. 

Rakban was ordered not to contact other prosecution witnesses in any way.

Inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.