An unemployed teenager was placed on probation for two years yesterday after admitting stealing a boat.

Antonio Bigeni, 19, pleaded guilty to stealing a boat from Charlon Grech in the past weeks in order to board a cabin cruiser and steal its engine. Bigeni was charged with another man, 23-year-old Clive Micallef, who the police believe was his accomplice. Micallef pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being remanded in preventive custody. He was also accused of committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended prison sentence. The court, presided over by magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, took into account the accused’s early guilty plea and the fact that he had a clean record. Police inspector Stephen Gatt prosecuted while Dr Jose Herrera appeared for Bigeni and Dr Kris Busietta and Dr Jason Azzopardi appeared for Micallef.