A serial thief who admitting to 12 robberies and relapsing has been jailed four years and lost €25,000 imposed by the courts in bail bonds.

Amadeo Grima, 36, who worked on ETC assignment with Birzebbuga local council, was arraigned this afternoon before Magistrate Doreen Clarke and pleaded guilty.

The thefts were committed between June last year and last month, mainly in Birzebbuga. In the majority of cases the man broke into cars and stole items such as laptop computers, electronic tablets, mobile phones, cash and even a silver watch.

He also broke into a pharmacy, haberdashery and pet shop from where he stole cash.

The court sentenced the man to four years imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of €25,000 in personal guarantees and deposits which he had paid to secure bail in three court cases which are still pending.

Magistrate Clarke instructed the director of prison to take the necessary measures to assist the defendant overcome his drug addiction.

Police inspectors Kurt Zahra and Johann Joseph Fenech prosecuted. Lawyer Patrick Valentino was legal aid.