A 28-year-old Romanian man today was jailed for 11 months after he admitted to pickpocketing an iPhone from a nightclub in Paceville.

Before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, Cezarica Sosioru changed his plea to guilty after having initially denied the charge.

The court heard how the accused stole an iPhone 6 at the Havana night club on 27 June and gave it to an accomplice. The latter, 33-year-old Lucian Grecu, was jailed for seven months last week.

The Magistrate said Mr Rosioru could not benefit from a reduction in his jail sentence as he had chosen to plead not guilty to the charges. He said the court wanted to send out a strong message that pickpocketing in crowded places – something that was on the rise – will not be tolerated.

Police Inspectors John Spiteri and Matthew Spagnol prosecuted. Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.