A Russian sailor who helped himself to almost €200 worth of clothes from three shops before being caught by security guards was yesterday given a suspended jail term.

Security staff at Main Street shopping complex in Paola apprehended Alexander Piskovoy, 25, from Ivanovka, after he stole €100 worth of clothes by breaking the security tags and stuffing the items in his bag on Wednesday.

He then stole €70 worth of items from Eurosport, also in Paola, and €24 worth of items from Cielo in Republic Street, Valletta.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona told Mr Piskovov that had he committed the same crime in another country he would have been jailed.

The magistrate handed down a one-year jail term suspend­ed for two years after taking into consideration the fact that the stolen items had been returned.

Police Inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted.

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