Cost of wife’s cancer drugs led man to raid garages across island

The crippling costs of cancer treatment for his wife led a father of five to start stealing from petrol stations across the island in a desperate attempt to pay for the medication, a court heard yesterday.

The tragic circumstances of Glen Debattista, 52, from Sta Venera, emerged yesterday as he was charged, together with his 20-year-old son Ryan, from Mosta, and Matthew Portelli, 25, from San Ġwann, with stealing from seven petrol stations.

The son, who has a drug problem, admitted to the charges, was given a two–year jail term suspended for two years and was sent to a residential rehabilitation programme, which he would have to follow up with regular visits.

The theft spree saw the trio rack up 34 charges, including stealing and destroying a van, stealing a pair of number plates and petrol from a seven petrol stations between September and November last year.

Mr Debattista and Mr Portelli were also charged with relapsing.

The circumstances behind the theft were raised during submissions on bail by the prosecuting officer, Police Inspector James Grech, who pointed out that Mr Debattista had started stealing to pay for his wife’s cancer medicine. She had since died, leaving him to take care of the family on his own.

Mr Debattista asked to speak and pointed out that, besides running his market stall, he would look after his four other children, who were all minors, the youngest being 11. “I work just for them.”

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani however, pointed out that, although she understood the circumstances of the case, she also had to consider the fact that the man had other run-ins with the law on his criminal re-cord and faced a string of charges. She therefore decided to remand him in custody.

At this point, Mr Debattista asked to at least be allowed to pick his children up from school and be given the time to make arrangements for the family to take care of them.

The magistrate made the concession and asked the police to make sure the officers escorting Mr Debattista when he picked up his children were not in uniform, for the children’s sake.

Mr Portelli was also remanded in custody.