A man who was held by shop security staff after trying to steal a pair of shoes from a Sliema shop was this morning given a conditional discharge for two years.

Kojic Milorad, 45, from Serbia, was stopped by security staff at Zara on Saturday when he was observed putting a pair of shoes into his computer bag. He was then arrested by the police.

Mr Milorad pleaded guilty.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale observed that the accused had been living in Malta for 20 years without trouble. He asked what had happened this time.

Mr Milorad said that what he had done was something which took place on the spur of the moment. He did not know why he did it and promised not to do that sore of thing again.

Magistrate Depasquele said that if he needed help, he should have applied to the authorities, but theft could not be justified.

He then conditionally discharged him for two years.