A man who admitted stealing a safe containing more than €4,500 and a laptop from a house in Żabbar was jailed for two years after his alleged partner-in-crime retracted his guilty plea and denied the charges.

Domenic Fava, 40, who has no fixed address, continued to plead guilty yesterday – even when Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera warned him that she would impose an effective jail term because he was a relapser.

He was jailed for two years with the magistrate recommending that he starts a drug rehabilitation programme.

Mr Fava and Edward Spalding, 26, from Cospicua, were arraigned on Sunday charged with the theft, which took place on August 30.

Police Inspectors James Grech and Sylvana Briffa said most of the stolen items had been returned.

Mr Spalding’s lawyer, Stephanie Deguara, said her client’s admission at Sunday’s arraignment was not valid at law because he had no defence counsel due to a misunderstanding over which legal aid lawyer was supposed to be on duty that day.

Dr Deguara requested bail but Magistrate Scerri Herrera turned down the request, noting that Mr Spalding had allegedly committed a crime during the operative term of a conditional discharge and because he had a long criminal history.

He was remanded in custody.

Lawyer Patrick Valentino appeared for Mr Fava.