A 23-year-old Cospicua man was conditionally discharged for eight months yesterday, after confessing in court that he had stolen money he felt he was due from his ex-girlfriend.

Before Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, the man pleaded guilty to stealing Lm150 (EUR349) from his ex-girlfriend.

Defence counsel Joe Giglio told the court the man had lost his father when he was a child, and aged 18 years, he had moved in with a woman who had eight children.

Dr Giglio said that during the five-year relationship, they had a child together; the man had also spent a lot of his income on the house, which was registered in his girlfriend’s name.

The lawyer added that when the couple broke up, the man asked his ex-girlfriend to return some of the items he had bought over the course of the relationship and when she refused, he decided to take Lm150 (EUR349), which he felt he was due.

The man, whose name is not being published to protect the children’s identity, returned the money immediately after his ex-girlfriend filed a police report.

Taking into consideration the circumstances, the court conditionally discharged the man for eight months.

Police Inspector Alexander Grech prosecuted and Dr Joseph Giglio appeared for the accused.