A magistrate this afternoon gave a teenager a stern warning, ordering him to go to school instead of continuing to form part of a gang that committed a string of thefts. 

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale warned the 15-year-old to snap out of the criminal path he had embarked on, warning him that he could have sent him to jail for four years but was being given a second chance. 

The court heard that the boy was frequenting bad company and had not chosen his friends wisely. 

The boy, from St Paul's Bay but whose name cannot be published by court order, was accused of a string of thefts between March and November. 

He pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him and was jailed for two years suspended for four years. He also placed him on probation for four years so he can be monitored. 

"Don't keep nodding your head...you must show me that you're going to change your ways. If you make another mistake in these four years, you will appear before me again and then I won't be giving you any more chances," Magistrate Depasquale told the youth. "And that won't be good news for you," he added. 

He was charged with seriously injuring a British woman, Angela Eve Reid, in St Paul's Bay at around 9pm on March 17 when he punched her as she was walking in the street. When she was on the ground, he stole her handbag containing various objects, including a smartphone and cash. 

On September 14, he broke into two street level hotel rooms at the Sunflower Hotel in St Paul's Bay, gaining access through the balcony. From these rooms, he stole whatever he could find. 

On November 12, he robbed Austrian national Ilse Horeman Buld and five days later broke into his hometown's Bocci Club from where he stole wines, beers and other items. Later in the month, he also tried breaking into a residence.  

Police Inspector James Grech prosecuted while lawyer Joseph Mizzi appeared for the accused.