The police arrive to arrest the thief last Friday.

The thief stopped by a Times of Malta photographer seconds after he snatched a woman’s handbag from her car last Friday was yesterday jailed for a year.

Claudio Mallia, a 31-year-old repeat offender from Valletta, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marseann Farrugia.

Although the handbag contained €30 and he also took an iPhone worth about €420 from the woman’s car while waiting on the traffic lights at Sa Maison, he left empty-handed as the quick-thinking photo­grapher sprung into action, giving chase and then detaining him with a tight bear hug until the police arrived.

Magistrate Farrugia noted that Mr Mallia was a drug addict and had stolen the bag with the intention of financing his addiction. In fact, he had already been convicted of cocaine possession.

“This court believes the accused should treat his addiction rather than steal to sustain it. He should find help to address his problem and not create problems for others,” the magistrate said.

She said Mr Mallia had already been given various chances to reform himself and had been placed on probation for three years and also been given a three-year conditional discharge for other crimes he had committed.

“Unfortunately, the accused does not seem to have taken advantage of the various chances he had been given to change his way of life. So the punishment this time must be an effective jail term,” the magistrate concluded. She recommended that he is given help to kick the habit while serving time.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana prosecuted.