A man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail after he was found guilty of stealing a woman’s handbag and relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Silvio Buttigieg, aged 32, from Cospicua, was acquitted of committing a theft from a Marsascala establishment. Although he admitted the crime, he claimed that he had not stolen all the items that the police had listed.

Buttigieg had been accused of stealing cash, alcohol and hi-fi equipment from Knights Bar and Restaurant in April 2000.

He was also charged with stealing Anna Scerri’s handbag. The theft was deemed violent, since Ms Scerri was 65 years old.

Buttigieg also answered charges of damaging the property of other people and of relapsing in view of previous convictions.

He admitted the theft from Knights Bar, but claimed that he had not stolen the items listed.

In view of this, the court declared that it could not find him guilty as charged and he was therefore acquitted.

He was, however, convicted of stealing the handbag of Ms Scerri and of relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Presiding magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison for these crimes.

Inspector Angelo Caruana prosecuted.