A 32-year-old man was yesterday jailed for five years after he admitted to stealing from 16 churches between October and November 1998.

When arrested in 1998, Joseph Attard had told the police that "priests do not suffer but an owner of a house has to suffer to earn money and that is why I don't mind stealing from priests".

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera considered his previous criminal record that showed he had committed a series of other thefts. The court noted that Mr Attard had shown no remorse for his actions.

Police Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo and Inspector Simon Galea prosecuted.

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