Fingerprints give thief away

A 49-year-old man whose fingerprints were found on a car was today convicted of having broken into the car and stealing a briefcase. He was jailed for 14 months.

Joseph Zammit had pleaded not guilty and said he had only leaned on the car the day before it was broken into, when he went to pick up his daughter from Gzira, where the car was parked.

Francis Stivala, the owner of the Renault Megane, said a quarter window had been smashed and a briefcase was missing. Mr Stivala said the things in the briefcase were worth between €50 and €70.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke said she did not believe the version of events given by the accused and jailed him for 14 months after taking into consideration that he had also relapsed.