Guilty plea to theft

A woman was yesterday conditionally discharged for three years for theft after a magistrate heard she had stolen money because her family was in need.

Pauline Mintoff pleaded guilty to stealing Lm160 from Cross Craft Company Limited in Paola on June 26, 2001.

On handing down judgment, Magistrate Abigail Lofaro noted that Mintoff had regretted her actions and had stolen because her family was in need of money.

The magistrate also noted that Mintoff had cooperated with the police, paid the money back and had a clean criminal record and ruled that a jail term was not appropriate.