Two young men charged with snatch-and-run robberies were yesterday placed under probation, while their “mastermind”, accused of thefts targeting elderly women, was denied bail.

Kersten Camilleri, from Valletta, pleaded not guilty to four charges of snatch-and-run robbery and of allegedly hitting one of the victims.

The 22-year-old was accused of stealing gold chains from women aged 62, 64 and 74 in three separate incidents this month.

Sources described Mr Camilleri as the mastermind, who allegedly hit the 64-year old woman in the head when she resisted outside City Gate in Floriana. The fourth snatch-and-run took place in Żejtun on an unknown person.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani noted that all known victims were elderly and denied him bail.

Two other unemployed men, each accused of taking part in one of these snatch-and-run incidents, were charged separately from Mr Camilleri and put under probation.

A 17-year-old from Marsascala was placed under a two-year probation order after pleading guilty to taking part in the incident involving the 62-year old woman at the MCP Car Park in Floriana.

The other man, 23-year old Christian Abdilla from Żabbar, also pleaded guilty to stealing a chain from the unknown person in Żejtun. He was put under a three-year probation order.

Police inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Jurgen Vella prosecuted, while Veronique Dalli and Jose Herrera appeared for the accused.