A thief who stole a man's mobile phone from his pocket when he was passed out drunk inside a Paceville nightclub has been handed a suspended sentence after admitting to the crime. 

Akram Khalifa Kahrir ,33, from Libya and living at the Ħal Far open centre pleaded guilty to the aggravated theft and said he was sorry for what he had done. 

The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, heard how in the early hours of Sunday morning he was spotted by bouncers lifting the phone from the pocket of a man who had passed out after a drink too many.

Inspector Nikolai Sant told the court that the stolen device was later retrieved and handed back to its rightful owner. 

Given Mr Kahrir's admission, early guilty plea and full cooperation, the court declared him guilty and condemned him to a 12-month jail term suspended for three years.

“If he makes another mistake in these three years, the axe hanging above his head will fall,” the court warned.

Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted. Lawyer Leontine Calleja was legal aid.