A drug addict who stole most of the jewellery adorning the statue of Our Lady of Graces in Żabbar was jailed for three years.

The 30-year-old thief took six gold and diamond rings, two gold and diamond bracelets, two necklaces and a pair of diamond earrings, a gold bracelet and a gold and diamond medallion from the statue in November 2009.

Aaron Axisa, of Xgħajra, scaled scaffolding that was erected outside, went into the church and then helped himself to the jewellery and collection boxes taking, among the loot, two bank notes of the old Maltese currency, the lira, equivalent to €30.

Because a theft had already occurred, the parish priest, Fr Sebastian Caruana, had placed the bank notes in the collection box and recorded the serial numbers. He alerted the Central Bank that someone might attempt to exchange the notes for euros and, in fact, Mr Axisa did. He was caught at the Central Bank and arrested.

The theft committed by Mr Axisa was noticed when Fr Caruana went to open the tabernacle during Holy Communion while saying Mass on Sunday morning. He realised the lock had been tampered with and he immediately called the police.

Fr Caruana also found that the lock of the statue’s niche had been broken and the jewellery on the Madonna was missing.

In sentencing Mr Axisa, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli took into consideration the fact that he had relapsed and had not learnt his lesson when given other chances by the courts.