A homeless Serbian man who pleaded guilty to living the life of a vagabond has been handed a suspended sentence and will be deported back to his country.

A court heard how Sinisa Maksic, 37, lived on the streets and kept his belongings in the bushes along the Bugibba promenade. Police officers found a stolen laptop among his possessions.

The man had originally been charged with stealing the laptop, which was yesterday reported stolen from a St Paul’s Bay restaurant, but investigators found out that he had been handed the electronic device.

Police Inspector Godwin Scerri, prosecuting, said the laptop had been returned to its owner. He also said he had accompanied the man to Bugibba to collect his personal belongings from the bushes.

Magistrate Carol Peralta handed down a two year jail sentence suspended for four years and ordered the man’s deportation. Lawyer Martin Fenech appeared for the man as legal aid.