A man who allegedly raided his mother’s home to fuel his drug addiction has been remanded in custody after pleading innocence and rebutting claims that his long-suffering relative had ordered him out of the house more than once.

Neville Abela, a 32-year old security officer from Marsa, residing inside the same houseallegedly ransacked over the past few days, pleaded not guilty to the aggravated theft, as well as to having been in possession of cocaine and heroin at the time of arrest.

A request for bail was met with strong objections by prosecuting Inspector Elliott Magro who stressed that the man had not committed a simple theft but had literally swept his mother’s home clear of all possessions.

“Kaxkarha,” (He wiped her out) explained the inspector, allegedly to sell or barter the stolen items to obtain drugs.

Moreover, the woman had allegedly sent her son packing several times before this last episode, but he apparently refused to leave, retaining easy access to the house, the court heard.

Besides, the main witness in this case was the accused’s mother herself who still has to testify, the prosecuting officer concluded.

Defence counsel Dustin Camilleri, assisting the accused as legal aid lawyer, countered that his client had not yet been supplied with a list of the allegedly stolen items by the prosecution.

Moreover, although the man had easy access to his mother’s home, he had other personal property which could provide alternative accommodation.

Besides, he had a stable job and was also seeking treatment for his addiction. “At this stage, prison would not be ideal,” the lawyer argued.

However, duty magistrate Neville Camilleri, observed that in his statement to the police, the accused had cited his mother’s address as his own personal address, leading the court to turn down his request for bail.