A man who, according to a magistrate, could write a book about his court appearances today pleaded not guilty to stealing two clocks from inside two courtrooms and a gas cylinder from outside Johnson’s Stores in Msida.

The clocks were stolen on May 19 from Hall 9, used by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli and Hall 16, used by Mr Justice Tonio Mallia.

Charles Sciberras, 39, Sta Lucia, who also pleaded not guilty to breaching bail and relapsing, was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana told the court that the accused, whose arms and legs were full of injection-related wounds, needed a lot of help to overcome his drug addiction.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona told the accused he needed much more than help because he could write a book about the many times he had appeared in court.