A man was yesterday conditionally discharged for six months after pleading guilty to stealing a woman’s purse which she left behind her at the bank.

Carmel Scerri, 56, from Marsa, was at the Marsa Bank of Valletta branch on Wednesday when Maria Theresa Spencer finished her bank errand and left her purse behind her.

Scerri took the purse, emptied the Lm320 in cash and disposed of the purse on his way home. He was tracked down after the police examined the bank’s CCTV.

Before magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, Scerri pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him. He was conditionally discharged for six months after the court took note of the fact that the accused admitted immediately and cooperated with the police.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono appeared for the accused.