A man already facing criminal proceedings over the theft of diesel from heavy vehicles was yesterday back in court charged with stealing almost €3,000 worth of fuel to sustain his drug addiction.

Before Magistrate Neville Camilleri, Andrew Bezzina, 32, an unemployed man from Ħamrun, pleaded not guilty to stealing the diesel from various heavy vehicles and trailers parked in different parts of the island on and before June 24.

He was also charged with filing a false report and with breaching the bail conditions imposed by Magistrate Carol Peralta when he was charged with a spate of diesel thefts earlier this year.

The court heard how an Italian driver went to pick up his truck from Burmarrad to leave for Sicily and caught the man stealing diesel. He chased him but he managed to flee.

When the police approached the defendant, based on the description of the car and its registration number, Mr Bezzina claimed that his car had been stolen, leading to the false report charge.

The police also obtained close circuit television footage of Mr Bezzina allegedly stealing diesel from heavy vehicles parked in Madliena.

Magistrate Camilleri turned down his request for bail and he was remanded in custody. Upon Mr Bezzina’s request, the court also ordered him to start a drug rehabilitation programme.

Police Inspectors Sandra Zammit and Josric Mifsud prosecuted. Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace was legal aid.