A man caught red-handed stealing tools from a parked car in Gzira has been placed on probation and ordered to start and successfully complete a drug rehabilitation programme.

Claudio Mallia, a 32-year-old man from Valletta, pleaded guilty to the attempted theft as well as to the theft of cash from a restaurant in Pieta'.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana told Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona that Mr Mallia was arrested when it was investigating a break-in reported by La Vela restaurant in Pieta'.

Later that day, he managed to escape from custody, only to be recaptured 15 minutes later on Manoel Island.

Mr Mallia pleaded guilty to the charges, which also included receiving stolen goods and relapsing, as well as to escaping from custody.

Magistrate Micallef Trigona said the court wanted to prevent further crimes so he placed Mr Mallia under probation for three years and ordered that he successfully completes a residential drug rehabilitation programme.

He warned him that if caught again, he would immediately be sent to prison “for a long time”.

Lawyer Joseph Ellis appeared for the man as legal aid.

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