A man who was supposed to start a new life after having served a prison term was caught red-handed stealing from a car, hours after he was released from jail, a court heard today.

The incident happened two days ago in Strait Street, Valletta.

Abdulhamid Saied, 36, from Tripoli, who lives in Malta but has no fixed address, was this morning arraigned under arrest before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech.

Sources said that the man caused about €1,200 in damages when he broke the window of a parked car, using a concrete brick. Following a tip off, the police went on site and found the man inside the car, the sources added.

Police inspector Daryl Borg charged the Libyan with damaging the vehicle, reviling and disobeying police officers and being in possession of an unlicensed knife. The man was also charged with relapsing. He pleaded not guilty.

No request for bail was made by legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace so the accused was remanded in custody.