A Romanian national who stole a top-of-the-range iPhone from a Paceville nightclub last month was sentenced to 11 months in jail yesterday.
Magistrate Aaron Bugeja passed judgment after hearing Cezarica Rosioru, 28, change his plea to guilty.
Mr Rosioru stole the iPhone 6 device from a reveller at Havana night club on the night of June 27 and handed it over to an accomplice, Lucian Grecu, 33, who was last week sentenced to seven months in prison.
The magistrate pointed out that Mr Rosioru could not benefit from a reduction in his jail sentence because he had originally chosen to contest the charges and only changed his mind after the court case started.
The magistrate said that pick-pocketing from crowded places was on the increase and a strong message had to be sent that such crime would not be tolerated.
Police Inspectors John Spiteri and Matthew Spagnol prosecuted.
Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.