A man from Cameroon has been handed an 8-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after he pleaded guilty to having stolen a mobile phone in Paceville.

20 year old Kevin Mengue of Gzira admitted the charge of theft, aggravated by time and value.

It is understood that the phone belonged to a woman who had been eating at an outdoor restaurant when the accused snatched it from the table and ran off. A nearby police patrol noticed the woman chasing the accused and subsequently pinned him down, arresting him.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, noting that the man had a clean police conduct and that the stolen item had been returned to its rightful owner, sentenced him to 8 months in jail, suspended for 18 months.

Inspector Matthew Spagnol prosecuted. Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace was defence counsel.