A Somali man has been jailed for six months for handling a stolen mobile phone after a court noted other past convictions.

Mustafa Mohamud Mohamed, 29, pleaded guilty to having handled the stolen Samsung phone as well as to being a relapser.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, heard the prosecution explain how Mr Mohamed had been arrested in St George's Road,Paceville in the early hours of March 18. A search by the police yielded the Samsung phone which had just been stolen from a young woman.

The prosecution informed the court that the device had been returned to its lawful owner.

Pointing out that the accused had other past convictions for theft, the prosecution remarked that this showed " repeated behaviour on the part of the accused." 

The court, noting that the prosecution had withdrawn the charge of theft originally filed against the accused, declared the man guilty of handling stolen property and of recidivism. Mr Mohamed was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Inspector Matthew Spagnol prosecuted.

Lawyer Josette Sultana was legal aid.