A teenager was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to two instances of theft, the first seven months ago, and targeting an elderly couple’s home.

The 19-year old construction worker, was escorted to court under arrest and charged with stealing jewellery and other items from an elderly couple’s home in Attard in August.

Another charge linked the young man to the alleged aggravated theft of a mobile phone from a social shelter at Birkirkara in February. He was further charged with breaching the terms of a probation order issued in 2017.

Throughout the arraignment, scanty details emerged as to the circumstances leading to the arrest of the suspect who, apparently, had proved difficult to trace.

A request for bail by defence lawyer Raisa Colombo was objected to by the prosecution who pointed out that the alleged victims still had to testify, adding that one of the victims of the first theft was a 78-year-old lady and a vulnerable person.

Moreover, when releasing his statement to the police, the man had described himself as ‘homeless,’ in spite of declaring otherwise when asked specifically by the court at the start of Thursday’s arraignment, the prosecution argued.

After hearing submissions by both parties, the court, presided over by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, turned down the request for bail in view of the gravity of the offences, the lack of trustworthiness of the accused, his lack of a fixed residence as well as the fact that civilian witnesses were still to testify.

The court upheld a request by the defence for a temporary supervision order to be issued in respect of the accused.

Inspector Christina Delia prosecuted.