A man was this morning granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €5,000 after he pleaded not guilty to treating his family to a meal and a night at the Excelsior Hotel, using a girlfriend’s cheque.

Josef Grech, 29, of Marsascala, denied stealing his girlfriend’s cheque book and using two cheques at the Excelsior.

Prosecuting officer James Grech told the Court that by mistake, the accused was given his mobile phones when he was out on police bail.

He said that he SMSed his girlfriend Doreen Spiteri and asked her to say she knew he had taken the cheque book. At that point, Ms Spiteri called the inspector and told him that she knew Mr Grech had had the cheque book. The inspector said he warned Mr Spiteri of the consequences of lodging a false report.

The accused was also ordered not to speak to his girlfriend.