Four Italian language students were conditionally discharged and given a stern warning by a magistrate this morning after they admitted stealing items from a number of rooms at a Bugibba guest house.

The four, who included a 16-year-old boy, were caught on Saturday after they were chased by other guests at the Lingo guest house.

They admitted to having entered two rooms, from which they stole a laptop, mobile phones, a digital camera and some cash.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani-Grima noted that the items had been returned. She told the four that stealing had nothing to do with being on holiday. She warned them not to repeat their crime, pointing out that she could have easily imposed a jail term or a suspended jail term which would have continued to blot their record even in Italy.

She also told the oldest of the accused, 22-year-old Sidi Fud El Otmani, that he should have known better and should have set a good example.