A Sliema man who escaped from police custody and jumped into the sea to prevent being captured was yesterday remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to robbing a 92-year-old woman in Birżebbuġa.

Andrea Busuttil, 27, was charged with robbery, which allegedly took place early in the morning on June 9, and holding the woman against her will. He also faced drug-related charges, including that of conspiring to deal in cannabis, cannabis possession and trafficking and possession of cocaine and heroin.

Police Inspectors Saviour Baldacchino and Justine Grech told Magistrate Gabriella Vella that Mr Busuttil had been detained in connection with theft from the home of the elderly woman in Triq Alessandru last June but had escaped from custody on July 30.

He was arrested close to Manoel Island almost a week later after jumping in the sea to escape the police officers. A police inspector jumped into the water and handcuffed him after a brief struggle.

Mr Busuttil pleaded not guilty to the long list of charges brought against him. No request for bail was made.

A police inspector jumped into the water and handcuffed him after a brief struggle

Mr Busuttil’s girlfriend, Donna Sciberras, was jailed for two years and eight months earlier this week after pleading guilty to the theft. She had revealed the identities of her two accomplices to the police when she was arrested over a theft from a residence in Sliema.

Ms Sciberras, who is three months pregnant, has been ordered by the court to start and successfully conclude a drug rehabilitation programme.

The nonagenarian was targeted because Ms Sciberras’s mother, Josette Pisani, often went to the woman’s house to clean. Ms Pisani is being investigated after her daughter claimed it was her mother who tipped her off on the woman as a possible target.

Ms Sciberras told the police her share from the robbery was about €2,000.

Kris Busietta and Jason Azzo-pardi appeared for Mr Busuttil.