A young Bulgarian pickpocket was conditionally discharged and ordered out of the country following her arraignment this morning on charges of attempted theft.

Stoyka Georgieva, 26, reportedly residing at a St Julian's hotel, was arrested after attempting to steal from unwary passers-by two days ago at around 11am in Republic Street, Valletta. She pleaded guilty and the court, presided over by Magistrate Joseph Mifsud, gave her a conditional discharge for three years.

The court also ordered that the woman be deported at the earliest possible date.

A source informed this newspaper that the offender was possibly one of a group who purposely travelled to Malta on ‘stealing holidays.’

Such ‘tourists’ were evidently up to no good and only served to cast a shadow upon the otherwise well-intentioned Bulgarians who resided on the island, the source said.

Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee prosecuted and lawyer Shazoo Ghaznavi was defence counsel.

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