Police officers apprehended a thief who had just stolen 120 litres of fuel in the early hours of Saturday morning, a court heard yesterday.

Darren Spiteri, 32, from Qormi, and another man stole the fuel from a crane that was parked in Salini Road, Marsascala, Police Inspector Tony Cachia told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti.

Officers noticed the accused acting suspiciously near the crane and when they went to investigate, he left the scene only to be stopped minutes later carrying four jerry cans of fuel.

During the short arraignment yesterday, legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech asked the court to consider the fact that his client had a clean police record, admitted at an early stage of the proceedings, and the stolen fuel was returned.

Magistrate Grixti placed Mr Spiteri on probation for two years and warned him of the consequences of breaking the law again.

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