Man who 'sold' camping equipment to couple had been dead for a year

A man was jailed for 11 months after a court found him guilty of handling stolen property and relapsing.

Romeo Bone, 32, from Floriana was originally charged with stealing camping equipment worth over €2,239 (Lm1, 000) from The Scout Shop in Floriana, damaging the property, handling stolen property and relapsing in August 2005.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard that after being arrested by the police regarding an unrelated crime, officers searched Mr Bone's home where they found camping equipment bearing The Scouts logo.

More items similar to those taken from The Scout Shop were eventually found in an adjoining property which belonged to Mr Bone.

On questioning Mr Bone about these items he said he knew nothing about them being stolen.

Mr Bone and his wife said that, while on a camping trip in Ġnejna Bay, they met another person who sold them the equipment. The court found this not to be credible especially after the person who had ostensibly sold the equipment to them had been dead for over a year when they said they had met him.

The court took into consideration the inconsistent evidence produced by the defence team, the inconsistencies in Mr Bone's testimony and, in particular, Mr Bone's explanation of how he came to be in possession of the stolen goods.

The court found Mr Bone guilty of handling stolen property but not of stealing the items.

After noting Mr Bone's criminal record, the court jailed him for 11 months.

Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Stephen Mallia prosecuted.