Man accused of several thefts granted bail

A man known to the police has been released on bail, following a not guilty plea being placed on his behalf after he refused to enter a plea to theft charges

Items stolen included football boots and headphones, as well as toys and a chip pan stolen from a Paola household
Items stolen included football boots and headphones, as well as toys and a chip pan stolen from a Paola household

A man has appeared in court accused of several small thefts from supermarkets and homes.

Jason Gatt, 37, from Paola, was accused of nine thefts in all, of consumer goods and alcohol from supermarkets and grocery stores in the South of the island. The thefts occurred between 14 December and 27 January.

Items stolen included football boots and headphones, as well as toys and a chip pan stolen from a Paola household.

Arraigned before magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona this morning, the accused did not enter a plea and so a plea of not guilty was registered on his behalf.

The accused, who is understood to have a drug problem, is well known to the police. Last December, Gatt had been placed on probation for a string of thefts from charity collection boxes. Today he was also charged with breaching that order.

Lawyer Yanika Bugeja requested bail, which was granted against a personal guarantee of €2,000.

Inspector Chantelle Casha prosecuted.