Three men were ordered to do community service today after they admitted to stealing nine dogs belonging to Grace Borg and her daughter Sarah. They were also placed under probation. The three have paid Grace and Sarah Borg compensation of €1,000 for each stolen dog since the dogs had been sold on and those which have been traced have become used to their new owners.

Mrs Borg and her daughter had declared that they were willing to accept payment for the dogs since they could not be returned.

James Pace 26, Benua Camilleri, 20 and a a man who was a minor at the time of the crime, admitted to stealing the huskies in April last year.

In handing down judgement, the court considered that two of the accused were first-time offenders and Mr Pace had a single conviction for which he was placed under three-month probation.

The court also heard a probation officer recommend community service in order to promote the concept of restorative justice.

Camilleri and Pace were placed under probation for three years while the minor was given one year probation and all have to do 50 hours of community service.