Aaron Ritchie, 28 of Paola today admitted in court to stealing from seven foreign-owned houses, with his haul reaching over €27,000. He also stole items from a beach in Sliema

The stolen items included six laptops, some €5,000 in cash, jewellery worth over €7,000, watches, Ipads, other electrical and audio equipment and phones. The houses were in Mellieha, St Paul's Bay, Swieqi and Siggiewi.

He sold some of the items to fuel a drug addiction.

Ritchie also admitted breaching three probation orders and relapsing.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi jailed him for five years.

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