A drug addict was yesterday charged with stealing two clocks from two courtrooms, putting them in a paper bag before he walked out.

The prosecution will be alleging that Charles Sciberras, 39, from Santa Luċija, was caught on CCTV trying to open court room doors before entering in room nine, which is used by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, and then leave.

The second clock went missing from court room 16, used by Mr Justice Tonio Mallia.

The clocks were removed on May 19 at about 1pm.

Mr Sciberras stood in the dock with his arms and legs covered in wounds, the result of years of drug abuse. He denied taking the clocks and stealing an empty gas cylinder in Msida.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana told the court that Mr Sciberras was in desperate need of help. Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona interjected, saying he needed more than help, adding that Mr Sciberras “could write a book given the number of times he has been to court”.

Requesting bail, defence lawyer Anthony Cutajar said his client had a place where to live. Mr Sciberras pointed out that while he did have his own house, he was living with his parents but his father wanted him out.

The magistrate said that what really mattered was that the address he gave to the police was the one he was living at.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000.