A Zabbar man was remanded in custody yesterday after pleading not guilty to stealing a pair of car speakers worth more than e232.94 (Lm100) from a car parked in Zabbar.

Antoine Sciberras, 28, was also charged with causing less than e1,164.69 (Lm500) to the car and dealing in stolen items.

He was accused of allegedly committing the crime during the operative term of a suspended jail sentence and of relapsing.

The court, presided over by magistrate Giovanni Grixti, heard how the accused had started using drugs again after finishing a drug rehabilitation programme. Prosecutor Senior Police Inspector Anthony Cassar told the court that the accused was not interested in embarking on another programme.

Dr Ian Farrugia was defence counsel to the accused.