Guilty of pickpocketing

Three Bulgarian women were yesterday given a three-month jail term suspended for two years for pickpocketing.

Malina Yordanova Mladenova, 25, and Nataliya Lyubomirava Nikolova, 27, pleaded guilty to stealing a handbag with Lm46 cash and other items from Angela Busuttil in St John Street, Valletta, on Monday at about 5 p.m.

Nikolova's 10-year-old daughter was let off with a reprimand after she too was charged with the theft.

Nikolina Veskova Nikolova, 18, pleaded guilty to stealing a purse with Lm50 and other items from Antonia Borg in Republic Street, Valletta, on Tuesday at about 10 a.m.

Police Inspectors Angelo Caruana and Ramon Mercieca prosecuted.

Dr Stefano Filletti was counsel to the defendants.