A man who allegedly raided a petrol station on Wednesday night was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty upon his arraignment hours later on Thursday.

Michael Spiteri, a 32-year old bread delivery man from Zabbar, was arrested following the theft of some €270 in cash from a machine at Birzebbugia petrol station.

The suspect had allegedly targeted the same petrol station on two earlier occasions.

Mr Spiteri pleaded not guilty to having made off with the money and causing hundreds of euros in damages to the service station equipment.

He also denied having committed the offences during the operative period of a suspended sentence handed down by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale just weeks ago in December.

Inspector Roderick Attard objected to the accused’s request for bail on the grounds that the man had allegedly committed the same wrongdoing twice before, targeting the same location and the same equipment.

The prosecution also argued that the accused had breached a suspended sentence.

In the light of these submissions, the court turned down the request for bail, remanding the accused in custody.

Lawyer Martin Fenech was legal aid counsel.