A man who stole a cartload of statuettes, potted plants and garden furniture from houses bit by bit was yesterday jailed for nine months after also admitting to relapsing.

Sporting a tear drop tattoo just below his right eye, 56-year-old John Aquilina admitted to stealing the items from homes in Balzan, Żebbuġ and Qormi.

He stole 21 statuettes, several potted plants, seven garden chairs, two round stone balls and even two balustrades.

Mr Aquilina took to the streets in the early hours of the morning 18 times between May 1 and last Saturday to take the items, most of which have been recovered and kept at the Żebbuġ police station.

During the arraignment, Mr Aquilina, who lives in a house named Dar il-Ħares, Min ma Jogħġubx ma Jħarisx (Ghost House, If You Don’t Like It, Don’t Look), pleaded guilty to all the thefts and to relapsing. Magistrate Edwina Grima jailed him for nine months after taking into consideration his criminal record and early admission.

Moments after being sentenced, Mr Aquilina’s mobile phone rang, the tone being a cock crowing, causing lawyers and policemen to chuckle as an officer told him to switch it off.