Victor Degabriele, 26 of Cospicua, Raymond Gatt, 35 of Birzebbuga and a 15-year-old boy from Cospicua were accused today of having stolen items, animals and a shotgun from a farmhouse in Vittoriosa and having stolen items from three containers at the water treatment plant in Xaghjra.

Degabariele was also accused of breaching the conditions of three previous conditional releases while Mr Gatt was accused of being in illegal possession of two bullets.

The 15-year-old was accused of having a number of bullets in his possession.

Raymond Gatt admitted to the charges and was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years. He was also fined €233. His lawyer, Patrick Valentino, told the court that his client was a gun collector, although he admitted that he did not have a licence for the weapons.

Victor Degabriele and the boy pleaded not guilty. The former could not be granted bail since he was already in remand pending the hearing of another theft case.

The boy was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000. He was warned by Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona of the consequences of breaching bail conditions.