A street cleaner with a gambling habit has been placed under probation after admitting to a swindle which cost his victim a hefty €29,000. 

Noel Bonello, 38, from Zabbar, lured a 40-year old woman to hand over the sum with which he proposed to secure her social accommodation, bragging about his contacts within the Housing Authority. 

When no promised accommodation materialized, the woman filed a police report against the man who had allegedly defrauded her out of her savings. Criminal investigations led to Mr Bonello’s arrest and arraignment over charges of misappropriation and fraud. 

In court Mr Bonello, accompanied by his elderly mother, admitted to the charges and declared that he had long been struggling to overcome his gambling habit. He had once embarked upon a rehabilitation programme but had given up half way through. 

The prosecution pointed out that the accused had admitted under questioning to his wrongdoing and had even signed a paper acknowledging his debt. 

Defence lawyers Paul and Alessandro Lia assisting the accused noted that their client had fully cooperated with the police, had filed an early guilty plea and had admitted to his gambling habit. Moreover, he was willing to follow any treatment order issued by the court. 

It was further observed that the swindled funds had not been turned to the man’s personal profit but had been used to fuel his gambling habit. 

Upon the accused's own admission the court, presided by Magistrate Charmaine Galea, declared Mr Bonello guilty and placed him under a 3-year Probation Order. In view of the ‘particular circumstances’ highlighted by the defence, the court placed him under a Treatment Order to be closely monitored by Caritas officials who would help him overcome his gambling streak once and for all. 

Moreover, the court ordered the accused to reimburse his victim  €29,000 in monthly instalments of €250 out of his net monthly wage which averaged some €750. 

Failure to abide by any of these orders or to cooperate officials tasked with his supervision would land him straight behind bars, warned the magistrate. 

Inspector Doriette Cuschieri prosecuted.

Lawyers Paul and Alessandro Lia were defence counsel.