A homeless man was close to losing the very little he had when he was the victim of an attempted theft early on Tuesday morning.

Police on patrol spotted Somalian Abdi Ahmed Ali, 32, rummaging through the man’s belongings at about 2.40am.

The homeless man, who was asleep in a bus stop in Tower Road, Sliema, at the time, usually stayed in a garage where he only had water and electricity.

He was awoken by two police officers who were handcuffing a man, the court heard.

Mr Ali, who appeared before Magistrate Josette Demicoli, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him and was conditionally discharged for two years after the court noted that nothing had actually been stolen.

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Ellis was legal aid.

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