A former chef was jailed for three years after he tried to steal money from a lotto office in Burmarrad on Wednesday claiming he was hungry, homeless and unemployed.

Brandishing a knife, Raymond Sultana, 53, of Sta Luċija walked into the lotto office at around 5.30 p.m. and asked Maria Suda for money. But she refused and he ran away.

Members of the mobile police squad were quickly positioned around the area and stopped Mr Sultana’s car close to T’Alla u Ommu hill, close to Birguma, limits of Naxxar.

As soon as he saw the police, Mr Sultana admitted that he was guilty and gave himself up.

During the arraignment, de-fence lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar said his client needed money to eat, as he had recently lost his job and was also homeless.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke jailed him for three years.

Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino and Edmond Cuschieri prosecuted.

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