Two youngsters were each placed under probation after admitting to having stolen suitcases packed with clothes belonging to guests staying at a St Paul’s Bay hotel.

Ibrahim Micallef, a 19-year old St Paul’s Bay resident, was arrested and arraigned along his 16-year old partner in crime, a Polish teen also residing at the same locality.

The two pleaded guilty to the aggravated theft which took place on Thursday night from a room inside the three-star hotel.

The elder of the two was separately charged with having committed the crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence, as well as with being a recidivist.

The 16-year old also faced separate charges linking him to another theft, just over a fortnight ago, of some €3,000 from a car that had been parked on a St Paul’s Bay Street.

The youngster also admitted to this theft, which took place in the morning on March 11.

Defence lawyers for the two accused pointed out that the two teenagers needed help and treatment to combat personal problems, a suggestion that was fully backed by the prosecution.

After hearing submissions by both parties, the court, presided over by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, declared the two accused guilty upon their own admission and placed them under a three-year probation order, as well as a three-year treatment order.

In respect of Mr Micallef, the court also extended the operative period of his previous suspended sentence.

While strongly urging both youngsters to reform themselves, the court also pointed out that the items they had stolen had been earned through hard work by the lawful owners.

Inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were counsel to Mr Micallef. Lawyer Lennox Vella was counsel to the minor.