The 28-year-old man who ripped a necklace off an elderly Sliema woman’s neck was yesterday sentenced to four years’ imprisonment after he was caught on CCTV.

Leondross Cutajar, a repeat offender from Cospicua, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Edwina Grima to the theft in broad daylight of a gold necklace with a diamond cross in Sir Luigi Camilleri Street on Tuesday.

He also admitted to stealing jewellery, cash and other items from a house in Żabbar on October 20, and to stealing a car stereo from Fgura on September 5.

Mr Cutajar admitted being in possession of stolen goods and tools used in break-ins, a fake gun and a balaclava.

The 14-second clip exposing Mr Cutajar’s crime in Sliema was uploaded on Youtube on the same day and immediately went viral on Facebook, as people shared the link urging anyone who recognised the assailant to report to the police.

The footage showed Mr Cutajar running towards the 67-year-old woman, putting his hand around her neck, grabbing the necklace and dragging her to the ground.

A relative last week told The Times the woman was bruised and suffering from shock. When contacted yesterday she preferred not to comment and to remain anonymous.