A thief nabbed when his DNA matched a blood splatter found inside one of the cars he had targeted was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in jail.

The Libyan man, who fled oppression in his country, pleaded guilty to stealing a laptop from a guesthouse in Swieqi where he resided and several items from two cars parked there.

Ans Abdulla Algheziwi, 28, from Birżebbuġa, admitted before Magistrate Ian Farrugia to three counts of theft early on June 10.

Police Inspector Elton Taliana said one of the residents at the guesthouse recognised the accused and informed the police.

Subsequently, a magisterial inquiry was opened into the theft. As part of the investigations, samples of blood splatter found on one of the cars were taken and these matched the man’s DNA.

He is understood to have injured himself when he smashed the window of one of the cars.

In court, his legal aid lawyer, Victor Bugeja, said his client remembered almost nothing about that night. He said that although this was not an excuse, he had binged on alcohol that evening after having been informed that the Libyan militia had murdered his brother.

However, Mr Taliana said that although it was being claimed that he was drunk he evidently knew what he was doing because he had returned to the guesthouse. Moreover, he insisted that a strong message had to be sent, also to serve as a deterrent, in view of the hardships Swieqi residents were facing on a daily basis.

To this Magistrate Ian Farrugia remarked: “If you need more resources, tell the Police Commissioner and you’ll have more people to work.”

The officer replied that he had already made that request and was assured that it was in hand.

Mr Algheziwi also pleaded guilty to breaching the bail conditions imposed in connection with a pending court case in which he stands charged with raping a woman a year ago.