A man was this morning remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to stealing a gold necklace from a woman, holding her against her will and slightly injuring her.

The man, Antoine Monsigneur, 42, of St Paul's Bay, originally pleaded guilty of stealing the necklace from Deborah Farrugia in Birkirkara following an argument with her. The woman, he claimed, had to give him drugs.

Justifying his actions, Mr Monsigneur, who was also charged with relapsing, pleaded that he had just come out of rehab and was sick.

"Your honour, I have been addicted for 12 years,” he said. Later he asked to sit down.

The prosecution said the accused had cooperated and the victim was well known to them.