A drug addict who helped himself to items belonging to swimmers at Golden Bay on Wednesday afternoon was yesterday placed on probation for three years.

Roderick Tabone, a 27-year-old Freeport employee, admitted to the theft of a handbag containing several items, including an iPhone, from the beach at Għajn Tuffieħa.

He also pleaded guilty to relapsing, since he had already been convicted of theft in October 2013.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia told Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit that their client had a serious drug addiction and was willing to address it.

Magistrate Stafrace Zammit placed Mr Tabone on probation for three years and ordered, additionally, that he follow a drug rehabili-tation programme.

Police Inspectors Nicholas Vella and Mark Mercieca prosecuted.

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