A 16-year-old girl who was described as being naive and infatuated with her 20-year-old lover, was placed under probation today after she addmitted in court to having stolen more than €31,000 in cash and gold from her mother's house and handing it to him. Both the girl and her boyfriend are from Marsa.

The court heard how the girl used to tell her lover that a lot of cash and gold were kept in her mother's house. He used to ask questions and eventually she started stealing some of the cash and jewelery and handing it over to him.

€15,000 in cash and €16,300 in gold were stolen. Only €2,000 actually belonged to the girl's mother. The rest of the cash belonged to her mother's partner, who is in prison.

The girl's mother renounced criminal action against her daughter.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius said the girl had cooperated with the police and was prepared to testify against her lover.

The court decided to place the girl under probation for three years.

Her lover was arraigned separately. He pleaded not guilty to being an accomplice in theft and handling stolen property, including selling off the stolen gold.

He has been kept in custody.