Oivend Xuereb, 26 of Floriana, who is currently serving a jail term for car theft, was accused in court today of a series of 14 thefts, mostly from hotel rooms.

Police Inspector Christopher Pullicino said that the accused was at the early stages of a drug problem and needed to be nipped in the bud.

He said that Mr Xuereb had admitted to his participation in the thefts and he helped the police in their investigations.

The thefts were made from rooms in various hotels in St Julian's and Paceville. The inspector said the accused managed to get hold of the keys to several rooms and was identified from CCTV footage.

The stolen items included phones, cash and computer equipment. Two alleged accomplices were arraigned last week.

Mr Xuereb pleaded not guilty.