They were 10 long distressing weeks being stranded after her car was stolen but what mattered to a British lady was that a dog that had been inside the vehicle was returned unharmed.

Alas, the dog, Jes, had to be put down last Thursday because of old age. Pauline Dale, 64, of Marsascala recounted in court the pain she went through after her car was stolen on January 12. She was testifying in the case against Michael Mifsud, 23, of Zabbar who is pleading not guilty to 53 charges, ranging from attempted murder to armed robberies, including stealing the woman's car.

Ms Dale recalled that on the day she had told her friend John Hensher, 68, who owned the dog, he could take her car to run some errands as it was raining. About an hour later he called to say that the car had been stolen with the dog still inside.

"For two days we looked for the dog and we were very, very worried about her because she is so old... Jess is a very well known dog all over the island and she finally turned up in front of the Marsascala church," Ms Dale testified. A vegetable vendor recognised the dog and took her to the owner.

In their search, Ms Dale and Mr Hensher had also sought the assistance of The Times.

Two weeks later she got a call from the police who informed her that her light blue Chevrolet Kalos had been found and that it had been used in a hold-up during which a person had been injured. "After I heard that, I would not use the car again and I sold it".

At that point in her testimony, Ms Dale turned slightly towards the accused and said: "I just want to thank whoever took my car for bringing the dog back to Marsascala... You made two old people very upset".

She added: "I'm a giver not a taker. In 47 years I have never been without a car and for 10 weeks I could not help or give lifts to the elderly residents who live near me".

The case continues.