The man’s son, 18-year-old Gordon Schembri, is accused of using 25 stolen cheques to buy Lm4,000 worth of items such as a lap top computer and brand name shoes and clothes between 1 and 24 May this year. The cheques he wrote eventually bounced.

Schembri is currently living in a rented flat in Paceville. His father told the court he gives his son Lm100 a month towards his rent since his son works in a bar in Paceville and the family live in Birzebbugia, which would be too long a drive after a night’s work. Presiding magistrate Abigail Lofaro told the accused that this was no laughing matter. These are things he should cry about, she said. The accused was granted bail against a Lm2,000 personal guarantee. Defence attorney Michael Sciriha said Schembri was young and had been carried away with wanting everything at once.

Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted.