A 46-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being charged with stealing six bottles of expensive wine from a Farsons establishment.

Robert Farrugia, who works as a waiter at a Żurrieq establishment, pleaded not guilty to theft, handling stolen goods, relapsing and breaching bail conditions.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto pointed out that four out of the six stolen bottles of wine had been returned. The remaining two, which cost  some €260, had been consumed.

Dr Montalto argued that his client had a tumultuous past, having had a drug addiction problem for which he had sought treatment. Unfortunately, the lawyer continued, he seemed to have replaced that habit with alcoholism.

Magistrate Charmaine Galea heard how the accused frequented the shop on a regular basis and was generally an ideal client, until he found himself going through a bad patch.

His client needed help and a staff on which to lean on.

Dr Montalto therefore requested bail and suggested an interim probation order, pointing out that for a person to be accepted into a residential rehabilitation programme, he could not be serving a jail term.

Prosecuting officer Roderick Agius said he feared that if not remanded in custody, the accused would once again turn to the bottle, thus increasing the chance of him committing another crime.

He suggested that, until arrangements could be made for him to enrol with a residential programme, he should be kept under preventative custody and a probation officer could be assigned to him.

The court turned down the request for bail and he was remanded in custody.