A 72-year-old man was been conditionally discharged for two years after being convicted of handling stolen property - an electric golf trolley belonging to a member of the Royal Malta Golf Club in Marsa.

Alfred Brown, a Briton resident in Marsascala, was accused of having committed the crime last September.

Mr Brown initially told the police that a friend had purchased the €400 trolley for him through ebay. He named his friend as being Alistair McLean - who is actually a caddie with international champion Colin Montgomerie.

He could not provide details of the transaction and said he had lost contact with his friend.

However Mr Brown later returned the trolley to the trolley room of the Royal Malta Golf Club after being asked if he wanted to, by the police.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that Mr Brown was initially charged with stealing and with handling stolen property. She noted that the trolley room had been accessible to the public and no one saw the crime being committed.

In finding Mr Brown guilty of handling stolen property, she noted that Mr Brown had no police record.