Drug addict stole, sold, steel beams to fund his habit

A man who was convicted of stealing steel beams was handed a probation order after the court took into account his efforts to overcome drug addiction.

Alfred Grixti was arraigned over the theft of a number of beams from a house, as well as recidivism and having committed a crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence.

Police inspector Jonathan Cassar told the court that the police were informed that 30 steel beams were moved from a residence in St Julian’s to another in Marsaxlokk on January 21, 2022. They were then taken to a scrapyard.

The owner of the scrapyard told the owner of the beams that a man he knew as Fredu, iċ-Ċamplina, had approached him to sell some beams. A labourer was sent with Fredu to the residence in Marsaxlokk from where the beams were collected and taken to the scrapyard. Grixti got paid €300 for the metal: €200 by cheque and a €100 in cash. The cheque was cashed.

When arrested, Grixti confessed to stealing the beams but said that they amounted to 14-15 and not 30 as the owner claimed.

He explained that at the time he was taking drugs. He had spotted the beams which were “old and rusty” and gone to the scrapyard to sell the metal.

In its considerations on punishment, the court observed that the accused’s version of events on the number of beams that were stolen was closer to the truth than that of the owner's, and this was corroborated by other evidence including that of the scrapyard owner and the driver of the truck.

A court-appointed expert determined that 14 to 18 beams had been loaded on the truck, which he calculated at 2,328 kilogrammes and at a value €1,110 for 16 beams on average.

The court was convinced that the accused stole the beams but not the number that the victim had been claiming, of 32 beams at €11,800.

The court analysed at length the evidence and the testimonies of a doctor and a therapeutic facilitator from a rehabilitation centre. The doctor told the court that Grixti left rehab in August 2024, and he continued to monitor him as he attended detox. He testified about Grixti’s progress.

The therapeutic facilitator also testified about Grixti’s commitment and negative urine tests, and stressed that the man did an effort to overcome his drug addiction and take back his life.

The court also referred to testimony by Grixti’s daughter in which she spoke about her father’s “battle,” over which her family had no control. The daughter explained that her father's life changed when he went to rehabilitation.

The court also observed that the accused confessed to the crime when he was interrogated but always maintained that the number of beams stolen was less than being claimed.

The court took into consideration that the victim tried to take advantage of the accused’s behaviour and tried to make a profit of €10,000.

In this case, the court felt that it should not impose an effective prison term, so that the accused would not lose the progress made so far, and also to ensure that he was able to repay the victim. He was therefore placed under a three-year probation order and ordered to pay €295 in court expenses. 

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presided.