Thief who stole €7,000 from Valletta shops imprisoned for three years

A man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to a number of thefts over a period of one month

The accused had completed two rehabilitation programmes and had tested clean of drugs for the last 11 years
The accused had completed two rehabilitation programmes and had tested clean of drugs for the last 11 years

A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to thefts from various establishments around Valletta.

Frank Abdilla, of Valletta, was arraigned in court today accused of stealing items amounting to about €7,000 from four separate establishments between 27 February and 27 March.

The court heard how on February 27, scooters and other items were stolen from a toy shop at a shopping complex.

In the early hours of March 6, tools were stolen from a flat in Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Street. Later that same day, cash was taken from a bar in Old Theatre Street.

On March 28 tools were stolen from a shop in Republic Street.

The four thefts involved a total value of around €7,000, the prosecution explained.

Police had identified Abdilla as a prime suspect from CCTV footage in the various shops.

The court heard how the man is a drug addict and resorted to theft to support his habit.

The defence informed the court that Abdilla had completed two rehabilitation programmes and had tested clean of drugs for the last 11 years, but had unfortunately suffered a relapse lately.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, presiding over the case, noted that the man cooperated fully with police investigations and admitted his involvement immediately. She observed that it would be in the best interests of the accused to be given an effective jail term so as to make sure that he would undergo rehabilitation once again, and handed Abdilla a three-year prison sentence.

Inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted. 

Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia was legal aid.