A man who last month stole a handbag from a car and was chased by a 12-year-old boy before being arrested, was today jailed for 30 months.

Malcolm Mercieca, 28, of no fixed address, admitted to a number of charges including  stealing a car, being an accomplice in the attempted theft of money from an ATM, stealing a handbag from a car and relapsing.

The handbag theft took place on July 17 when Doreen Spiteri parked her car outside a retail outlet in Marsa and popped in to do some shopping, leaving her son in the vehicle.

Soon after, Mr Mercieca reached in and took the bag while a woman tried to distract the boy.

But as soon as Mercieca ran off with the bag, the boy gave chase and screamed for help.

Eyewitnesses alerted the police who were soon on the scene and arrested the Mercieca.

The court was told that the accused has a drug problem. He also had his driving licence suspended for a year and the court recommended to the Director of Prisons that he be put in a drug rehabilitation programme.