Drug addict charged with mugging woman and two supermarket thefts
Fabian Vella was denied bail
A drug addict was remanded in custody on Thursday after being charged with mugging a woman and stealing from two supermarkets.
Fabian Vella, 43, pleaded guilty to two thefts from a supermarket chain but denied the mugging charges.
Police inspector Gabriel Kitcher told the court that Vella was arrested following a number of reports.
The first report related to a woman who was allegedly mugged by the suspect on August 2 at Pjazza Antoine De Paule in Paola, stealing €20 from her.
On August 5, Vella allegedly stole perfume from a supermarket in Tarxien and four days later the director of the supermarket chain reported that he had also stolen meat from the Fgura outlet.
Vella was accused of three counts of theft. He was further charged with committing the crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence and a supervision order, as well as being a repeat offender.
Legal aid lawyer Nadya Fiott requested bail but Kitcher objected, highlighting the accused’s acute drug dependence, adding that his probation officer in another case had reported him to court for breaching a court order.
Kitcher warned there was a risk that Vella could commit other offences while out on bail, pointing out he knew the alleged victim by name.
Fiott countered that the man helps his father who has a medical condition and that he had been going through a period of loneliness but was now in a relationship which he did not want to lose.
Bail was denied and Vella was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Ann Marie Thake presided over the case.
Police inspectors Gabriel Kitcher and Karen Cassar prosecuted.
Legal aid lawyer Nadya Fiott appeared for the accused.