A wanted man who evaded the police for a month, was arrested when he was found hiding in a recess in a wall behind a wardrobe in his house, a court was told today.

Carmelo Dalli, 53, an unemployment man from Cospicua, is being accused of having stolen two Shetland Ponies, which he then sold to somebody else.

Prosecutors told the court that the two ponies had been reported missing from a farm in Tarxien. They were tracked down when their new owner tried to register them. When questions were asked, he pointed to the accused as the man who had sold the ponies to him. 

The court was told that policemen called at Mr Dalli's house every day for a month, seeking to speak to him, but his wife always claimed he was not there.

Finally they produced a search warrant, searched the house, and found Mr Dalli hiding in hole in the wall behind a wardrobe. 

Dalli was also accused of breaching the conditions of two previous court sentences and relapsing.

Bail was granted against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €5,000.