A 14-year-old has been handed a suspended sentence after was caught in possession of a stolen mobile phone when the police traced its secure code.

The teenager, whose name cannot be mentioned by court order, inserted his SIM card into the stolen mobile phone and used it regularly until he was approached by the police.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard how German national Marcus Spelge was walking on the Gzira promenade early on July 15, 2011, when a boy riding a bicycle passed by and snatched his backpack that was hanging over one shoulder.

Among the items the bag contained was a mobile phone. A few days later, the police traced its IMEI number, and found that it was being used by a mobile SIM card registered in the teenager's name.

When he was approached by the police, the youth admitted that the SIM card was his and that he had purchased the mobile for €70 from someone who he did not know.

Magistrate Clarke ruled that there was no evidence linking the teenager to the actual theft, except for the use of the mobile phone, so she cleared him of the theft but found him guilty of handling stolen property.

She jailed him for two months suspended for 18 months and also ordered him to pay €170 in court expenses.