A man has been ordered to refund his mother for items he had stolen to fund his drug habit.

The 32-year-old security officer from Marsa, Neville Abela, had been charged before magistrate Neville Camilleri in June.

Mr Abela had been accused of heroin and cocaine possession, as well as theft.

During his arraignment on June 5, the court had heard how the accused, who lives with his mother, stole from her home to fund his drug habit.

“He didn't just steal,” the prosecution said, “He took everything. He was living with his mother against her will, and she had thrown him out several times.”

He had pleaded guilty during a sitting on June 20.

In view of his guilty plea and joint submissions by the defence and the Attorney General, the criminal court, presided by judge Giovanni Grixti, sentenced the man to probation for three years and placed him under a treatment order.

He was also ordered to refund the €2,300 he had stolen from his mother within three years.