A cocaine addict was yesterday charged with stealing €700 from a grocery and holding the employees against their will in a desperate attempt to feed his habit.

Darryl Borg, 27, from Birkirkara, walked into The Convenience Shop in Mons. Alfred Mifsud Street, Birkirkara, on Sunday at 9pm and demanded the cash from the two employees.

Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Carlos Cordina told Magistrate Gabriella Vella that CCTV footage showed Mr Borg inside the shop and he was identified.

He pleaded not guilty to carrying out the hold-up, holding the employees against their will and relapsing.

Defence lawyers David Camilleri and Joseph Gatt said their client had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, and remanding him in custody was therefore not the ideal situation. They requested that he was granted bail.

However, the magistrate thought otherwise and remanded him in custody, recommending to the prisons director for him to be kept at the Forensic Unit at Mount Carmel Hospital.

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