Two young men who stole a handbag from a drunken woman were yesterday placed under probation for two years and given a stern warning by the magistrate.

The two men picked up the woman from Paceville at about 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday and decided to drive to Baħar iċ-Ċaħaq near the water park where she told them she wanted to get out of the car.

They tried to stop her and as she tried to get her handbag after getting out of the car, the two drove off, police sources said.

They admitted to stealing the bag containing her mobile phone, official documents and cash. Most of the items were returned.

Defence lawyer Anġlu Farrugia said the woman was drunk and she had voluntarily got into the car with them. He said both had clean police records and this was a one-of incident.

After judgment was delivered, Dr Farrugia asked Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani to ban publication of their names because of their jobs.

Shaking her head, the magistrate said there was no way she could issue such an order, adding that the two men should have thought about their jobs before they committed the crime.

The magistrate noted they both came from good families and that they should be ashamed of themselves for putting their parents, who were present in court, through such an ordeal.

Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri prosecuted.