An unemployed waiter who said he had been looking for a job in his profession “for years” yesterday denied trying to steal fruit from a farmer and assaulting him.

The farmer, David Scicluna, caught Roderick Fiteni, 32, from Żebbuġ, on Sunday evening and tried to hold him while the police were on their way, Police Inspector Roderick Agius said.

Mr Fiteni escaped but was caught and arrested a short time later.

During the arraignment yesterday, Mr Fiteni denied trying to steal the fruit, slightly injuring the farmer, driving without a licence and insurance and breaching bail conditions.

In giving his particulars to the court, Mr Fiteni said he had been trying to find work as a waiter “for years”.

Lawyer Joe Bonnici said his client was arrested on his way to the police station to hand himself in and argued that his client was not some career criminal.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia remanded him in custody.