Stole credit card to buy children's presents - March 27, 2003

A San Gwann man was yesterday put on probation for three years for stealing a credit card to buy his children Christmas presents.

Paul Pace, 33, pleaded guilty to stealing the credit card to the detriment of Kevin Newell and Bank of Valletta plc, forging public documents, making malicious use of the card and defrauding Newell and the bank of more than Lm500 on November 30 and December 1, 2002.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro noted that Pace was unemployed at the time and had stolen the credit card to buy presents for his children.

She ruled that although his actions could not be justified, he had fully cooperated with police investigations and had refunded his victims.

Police Inspectors Martin Sammut and Mario Tonna prosecuted.