A Polish teenager, 19, pleaded guilty to stealing a woman’s handbag in Sliema after admitting that he came to Malta in order to find work.

Prosecuting inspector, Matthew Spagnol said that the accused, Kamil Skawinski, was also found to be in possession of less than a gramme of cannabis at the time of the arrest.

The accused pleaded guilty and told the court how he had a job interview lined up so that he could finally find a job.

Defence lawyer Josette Sultana argued that the accused had been drinking, was slightly tipsy and that he young age coupled with the alcohol consumption led to commit the “stupid” act. She argued that there should be no doubt that the cannabis was for personal use.

Inspector Spagnol told the court that the handbag was retrieved by the police and returned to its rightful owner, with none of the contents of the bag reported as missing.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, presiding over the case, condemned the accused to six months imprisonment suspended for four years.