A 34-year-old Serbian man yesterday admitted stealing three dresses, each worth more than €3,000, for his girlfriend from a Hugo Boss outlet in St Julian’s after he lost all his money on gambling at the casino.

Vladimir Ivljanin told the police he came to Malta to play poker but lost all his money on gambling. He did not want to return to Serbia empty-handed and wanted to buy a present for his girlfriend.

He confessed to stealing three Blumarine Sarto dresses, which were returned immediately when he was caught red-handed.

The theft from took place at 1.45pm on Wednesday. Mr Ivljanin told Magistrate Neville Camilleri he was sorry for what he had done.

His defence lawyer, Roberto Montalto, admitted he was surprised at the value of the three dresses.

Magistrate Camilleri ignored the defence’s request for a conditional discharge and, given the value of the stolen items, sentenced Mr Ivljanin to 16 months in jail suspended for three years.

The court was told Mr Ivljanin had booked a flight to leave Malta today.

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