Thief snatches handbag and runs into police

Domenic Mercieca, 33 of Gzira was handed a three year suspended jail term after pleading guilty to a snatch and grab in Gzira. He was also charged with breaching bail.

At around 3:10pm yesterday the accused was at Triq ix-Xatt, Gzira when he noted Linda Johanna Nilsson having a coffee with a handbag next to her. The accused ran to the victim's direction, snatched her handbag and made away with it while the victim chased him.

However, his luck ran out when he turned a corner and ran into the police. Mercieca, stopped in his tracks, placed the handbag on the ground and was arrested.

Defence counsel Lucio Sciriha argued the man has a serious drug problem and is scheduled to start a 15-month drug rehabilitation programme next week.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, handed the accused a year's jail term suspended for three years in order to allow Mercieca to follow the rehab programme. Furthermore, the court did not cash the deposit and personal guarantee Mercieca had pledged as part of his previous bail conditions.

Inspector Fabian Fleuri prosecuted.