A 32-year-old Somali has been conditionally discharged for two years after pleading guilty to attempting to rob a homeless man of his belongings who at the time of the attempted theft was in a deep sleep on a bus stop in Sliema.

The incident took place on Tuesday in the early hours of the morning in Tower Road.

Police who happened to be in the vicinity at the time on patrol spotted Abdi Ahmed Ali going through the belongings of the homeless.

The police acted immediately and arrested the thief. At this point, the homeless man woke up but it was only then he realised he was about to be a victim of a theft.

Nothing was stolen, as was confirmed by the homeless man.

Police Inspector Jason Francis Sultana prosecuted, while lawyer Joe Ellis was appointed legal aid.