A Libyan man pleaded guilty to breaking into an elderly woman’s apartment in Valletta and stealing several items, including six passports.

Ahmed Tarek Migiref, 38, who lives at the Ħal Far open centre, admitted stealing jewellery, cash, passports and other items from the woman’s apartment on Saturday night.

Police Inspector Pierre Micallef-Grimaud, prosecuting, said the police had received a report that a thief had broken into an apartment in Valletta. When officers arrived on site they found that the apartment, which belonged to an elderly woman who was not at home at the time, was in a mess, suggesting someone had been rummaging through the furniture.

The accused was found hiding in the common yard of the apartment block. He was carrying six passports, many of which were expired, and had a strong smell of alcohol.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli told the accused he should seek help if he had an alcohol problem. He was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

Lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar represented the accused.