A 31-year-old man from Birkirkara pleaded not guilty to a number of theft charges.

The accused, Wayne Falzon, was charged with stealing cash from a service station in Mdina on 19 January 2017 and on 26 January 2017, and causing damages. On 27 January, he also stole from another station in Iklin, another service station on 31 January.

He was also charged with committing crimes while under a suspended sentence and being in breach of a probation order

The defence argued that the accused had a drug problem and asked for him to be held at the forensic unit at Mt Carmel. The court ordered that the Prison Director take a decision.

He pleaded not guilty and did not ask for bail.

Inspectors Elton Taliana and Roderick Agius prosecuting. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presiding