A delivery man this morning admitted in court that he had filed a false police report where he claimed to having been a victim of a hold-up in which €630 had been stolen from him.

A court this morning heard the accused, Tony Attard, 37 of Sta Venera admit to having filed the false report yesterday morning. He had claimed that two men on a motorbike had stopped him, beaten him up and stolen cash from his delivery van. He even beat himself up and tore his shirt to make himself more credible.

Police investigations showed that he made up the story because of his financial difficulties.

Defence lawyer Jose' Herrera said the accused was a first-time offender. The employer, Paolo Bonnici Ltd, had understood the problems which his client was going through, and he would not lose his job as a result.

Magistrate Clare Stafrace Zammit conditionally discharged the accused for three years after noting that the money had been paid back.