An unemployed diver who spends his days fishing for octopus and queuing for his welfare payout yesterday adamantly denied stealing a laptop – despite his fingerprints being all over the crime scene.

David Yates, 42, from Sliema, smirked as he told a court what he did when asked for his particulars. He denied stealing a laptop and a handbag from two cars in Sliema on March 23.

Police Inspector James Grech said the man’s DNA and fingerprints were all over the first vehicle. The stolen items had not been returned.

Mr Yates was remanded in custody.

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