A 45-year-old man from Zabbar has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to threatening, assaulting and seriously injuring an 81-year-old man during a hold-up on a lotto booth in Hamrun yesterday afternoon.

Jesmond Gatt pleaded not guilty to holding 81-year-old Francesco Del Volto Santo Pizzuto against his will, stealing €37 from him and attacking him with a knife, which he was holding without a licence.

He was also charged with being in possession of stolen goods.

The police said yesterday the thief entered the booth brandishing a knife and asked Mr Pizzuto, a fourth time victim of theft, for money.

Mr Pizzuto resisted the theif and was slightly injured in the process. The thief escaped but was caught by the police soon after.

Magistrate Conseulo Herrera told Mr Gatt during the court sitting this afternoon that in her 18 years on the bench she had gotten fed up of seeing him in front of her.

"Aren't you going to turn your life around," she asked him.Inspectors Carlos Cordina and Edel Mary Camilleri prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech appeared for Mr Gatt.

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