Man imprisoned hours after theft

Johann Charles Xerri from Valletta was imprisoned for 31 months after pleading guilty to mugging an elderly woman earlier this morning.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri, heard Xerri recount how this morning at around 9am he stole a necklace that 89-year-old Emanuele Miceli was wearing.

The necklace was valued at €444. Xerri approached his victim asking her directions to Melita Street. When Miceli stopped to talk to the man, he snatched the necklace and fled.

Inspector Kyle Borg, explained how the old lady raised a hue and cry and people in the vicinity apprehended Xerri until the police arrived on site and arrested him.

The prosecuting officer also told the court that the 29-year-old Xerri has an acute drug addiction. The broken necklace was returned to its rightful owner.

Magistrate Camilleri asked the accused if he was interested in joining a drug rehabilitation programme and Xerri replied that in four months time he would be admitted to Santa Marija to try and kick the habit.

The Magistrate told off Xerri and expressed his hope that after leaving prison the accused would not return to a life of crime.

He expressed his disgust at Xerri's police conduct, at the fact that Xerri picked on a vulnerable victim and that the accused breached a suspended sentence.

Magistrate Camilleri called into force the term of the suspended sentence and handed the accused a collective jail term of two years and seven months.

Defence lawyer Dean Hili appeared for the accused.