Adel Dawah, 34, originally from Syria, but residing in San Gwann, pleaded guilty to stealing a bag containing sunglasses, clothes and other documents from Sliema to the detriment of Marianna Golovkina on 22 August.

He was also accused of stealing another bag containing two mobile phones, a camera and cash on 19 August from Sliema, with committing a crime while under the operative term of a suspended prison sentence and relapsing in view of previous convictions.

The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, sternly reminded the accused that he was still under the operative period of a one-year prison sentence suspended for three years. “You have pleaded guilty to these charges and, as a result, you will serve the one year prison term and a fitting punishment for the crimes you have been accused of today,” she said.

The court is due to study the case and will deliver punishment at a later date. Police inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi prosecuted.