A 22-year-old man was yesterday remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty of breaking into three houses on separate occasions.

Justin Polidano, from Kirkop, was accused before magistrate Antonio Mizzi of stealing more than Lm1,000 worth of items to the detriment of Carmela Camilleri when he broke into her house in Zurrieq, on 24 September 2006 at around 6am.

He was also accused of stealing less than Lm1,000 from John Vella’s house in Paola on 6 July 2006 at about 6am, and Elizabeth Cauchi’s house in Tarxien on 19 November 2006 at around 1.30pm.

Polidano also pleaded not guilty of causing less than Lm500 in damages to the three houses, dealing in stolen goods and relapsing.

Police Inspector Carmelo Magri led the prosecution while Dr Charmaine Cherrett and Dr Marion Camilleri appeared for the accused.