A man who was caught by elderly woman who chased him after he had stolen her purse was jailed for a year today.

A second man who was an accomplice has not been caught. He ran away with the purse which contained €70.
The theft occurred yesterday during the 6.30pm Mass at St Helen’s basilica in Birkirkara. Two men snatched the woman’s purse. 

The woman gave chase and caught 31-year-old Fabian Sciriha on the church parvis. After calling her son to assist her, the woman took the thief to the police station herself where she filed a report.

Mr Sciriha filed a guilty plea in court today and was jailed for a year.

Lawyer Noel Bartolo was legal aid while police inspector Roderick Spiteri prosecuted.