A Romanian who hacked into his neighbour’s computer to buy nearly €500 worth of items “he would never have been able to afford” was yesterday given a suspended jail term.

Montanu Dan Vladimir, 26, from Msida, managed to go through the unlocked wireless internet connection belonging to Pierre Mastrolani and purchase items using Mr Mastrolani’s credit card details which were saved on his computer, Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef told the court.

Mr Vladimir bought a pair of Dolce and Gabbana shoes, flip flops and swimming shorts totalling €480 and had the items delivered to another address.

Inspector Micallef said the neighbour had suspected Mr Vladimir had hacked into his computer and informed the police as soon as he realised the money was missing.

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech told Magistrate Edwina Grima that his client has been in Malta for the past two-and-a-half months and Mr Vladimir said it was an incident he regretted.

Inspector Micallef said the accused had repaid the victim.

Magistrate Grima jailed him for eight months suspended for one year after taking into consideration his clean police record, his early admission and the fact that the money had been returned.