A pensioner from Paola turned himself in after setting fire to a vineyard in a nature reserve in Mġarr, confessing he was a pyromaniac.

Spiru Cini, 65, pleaded guilty to starting a fire in a number of fields, including a vineyard, in the Riviera Nature Park on Tuesday at about 2.30 p.m.

He also admitted to destroying a number of protected plants.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered a psychiatrist to draw up a report and remanded him in custody at Mount Carmel Hospital.

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