A Briton who grabbed a policeman's hat and ran off with it ended up in court today and was given a conditional discharge.

The incident happened in Paceville. Richard Zuccala, 20, from Colchester, was out drinking with friends and had a few too many when his friends dared him to grab the policeman's hat.

Mr Zuccala grabbed the hat of PC Mario Grech but jokingly gave it back and as the policeman reached for it he ran off down the street holding it. The police gave chase and had one of their radios broken in the process.

Mr Zuccala told the court he was sorry for his behaviour and that he had paid for the damage caused to the radio.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna after taking into consideration that he had cooperated with the police and that he would be leaving the island soon, conditionally discharged him for six months.

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