A 28-year-old Libyan asylum seeker has been jailed for 18 months after admitting to stealing a laptop from a guesthouse and other item from two cars.

Ans Abdulla Algheziwi also pleaded guilty to damaging the vehicles and breaching the conditions of a previous bail release. The Libyan stands accused of rape in a separate case.

Inspector Elton Taliana, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Algheziwi, who lives in Birzebbuga and is unemployed, had stolen the laptop from a residence he lived in earlier in Swieqi. He then broke into two vehicles and stole some items from inside. Inspector Taliana said one of the residents recognized Algheziwi and, furthermore, blood found on the broken car windows was tested for DNA and matched that of the accused.

Legal Aid lawyer Victor Bugeja argued that the accused was drunk at the time and did not remember what had happened. Nonetheless he had cooperated with the police and admitted at the earliest chance. He also said that, while drunkenness was no excuse, Mr Algheziwi became inebriated after learning that his brother was killed by one of Libya’s many militias.

Inspector Taliana, however, insisted that the accused knew what he was doing as he targeted the same house where he had lived previously. He told the court that it should also take into consideration the suffering of victims of crime.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia jailed Mr Algheziwi for 18 months.