A 19-year-old man was sentenced to a suspended jail term after admitting to stealing a mobile phone and breaking the thumb of the police officer who sought to retrieve it.

The theft occurred at around 3:30am last Christmas in the Nationalist Party club in St Joseph High Road, Ħamrun.

The woman whose mobile was stolen reported the theft to Constable Brian Tonna, and told him that she suspected the accused - Libyan national Ahmed Naser Abdallah Imhamed - of being the perpetrator.

Following a quick search, PC Tonna found the woman's mobile phone concealed underneath one of Mr Imhamed's socks.

But as he went to retrieve the phone, Mr Imhamed kicked his hand, fracturing his thumb.

Mr Imhamed was arraigned that same day, and accused of stealing the mobile phone, seriously injuring and violently resisting PC Tonna, and breaching the public peace.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment, but subsequently changed his plea, leading Magistrate Anthony Vella to sentence him to a two-year jail term suspended for four years and a €4,000 fine.

Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted.