A Libyan man got drunk sipping people’s drinks in Paceville bars and then stole a jacket from a night club and more clothes from a shop, a court heard yesterday.

Mohammed Mahdi, 33, was yesterday charged with the thefts and with being in possession of a penknife. Police Inspector Trevor Micallef told Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras that Mr Mahdi, who has no fixed address, spent an evening hopping from bar to bar, sipping people’s drinks.

He stole a jacket from a club and when he had consumed too much alcohol, early on Sunday morning, he went to a Paceville shop and stole a jacket and a T-shirt, the inspector said. He also allegedly stole a mobile phone that evening. Mr Mahdi was also charged with breaching the St Julian’s by-law that prohibits the consumption of alcohol in glass recipients, being too drunk to take care of himself and breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence from February.

He also denied being in possession of a sharp, pointed instrument. He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.