An 18-year-old unemployed man was placed under a three-year probation and treatment order after admitting in court that he harassed his elderly grandparents for money to fund his gambling addiction.

The case emerged on Monday before duty magistrate Nadia Helena Vella, where the teenager pleaded guilty to charges of using psychological violence against his grandparents, as well as harassing, threatening and insulting them.

Police inspector Christian Cauchi told the court that the elderly couple had gone to the domestic violence hub in Santa Luċija to report their grandson, who lives with them at their Żebbuġ home.

According to the prosecution, the grandparents said the teenager had been demanding money for the past two years because of a gambling addiction. In March alone, they allegedly handed him €16,000, while a further €5,000 was given from the start of April until his arrest - bringing the total to more than €21,000 in just two months.

The court heard that when the grandparents refused to give him money, the accused allegedly tore their clothes, woke them during the night to pressure them into withdrawing cash, and at one point threatened them with a knife.

Cauchi added that while the grandparents were filing their report, the teenager sent his grandmother a text asking for €10 to gamble and attempted to call her. He was arrested at 3am on Monday.

During police questioning, the inspector said, the accused appeared to believe he had a right to demand money because he was 18 and unemployed, and showed no remorse.

The prosecution requested the maximum suspended sentence allowed by law, along with a restraining order and treatment order.

However, legal aid lawyer Yanica Barbara argued for a conditional discharge, saying her client had admitted asking for money but denied threatening his grandparents with a knife. She also claimed that not all the money mentioned was for him, but that some was also intended for an uncle living in the same residence who has a drug abuse problem.

After a brief suspension, the court opted against a suspended sentence and instead placed the teenager under a three-year probation order, together with a treatment order. A three-year restraining order was also issued in favour of the grandparents.

Magistrate Nadia Helena Vella presided. Inspector Christian Cauchi prosecuted, while legal aid lawyer Yanica Barbara appeared for the accused.