Man sentenced to seven months in jail after breaking into home of elderly woman

A 39-year-old man has been handed a seven-month prison sentence and slapped with a €400 fine after being found guilty of breaking and entering into the home of an elderly woman in Żebbuġ.

Christopher Scerri, from Pietà, was caught inside the residence together with Mario Camilleri. The pair were prosecuted separately, with Scerri being found guilty both of breaking and entering and attempted theft. The incident took place in 2013 when police had arrived at the woman’s home after receiving a report that two men were acting suspiciously by fiddling with a green front door on Mitħna Street.

Although the officers found the front door locked, there were what appeared to be fresh scratches. This prompted one of the officers to peak through the letter box, where he saw the two men, and immediately kicked the door open.

Scerri was found holding a screwdriver while Camilleri was found holding a pair of tights. Both were arrested on site.

A police sergeant testified that the home had been visibly ransacked. However, the elderly woman said that when she had returned from church, she had not noticed any items missing. She confirmed that she had locked the door.

The court observed that the charged of attempted theft was aggravated by means and place, but not by value. Ultimately, Magistrate Josette Demicoli, presiding over the case, took into consideration the man’s criminal history, including breaching conditions of bail, and ordered him to serve a seven-month prison term.

Inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted.