Two brothers admitted today that they had used stolen cheques to buy a range of goods including television and barbeque sets from a number of establishments.

Julian and Emanuel Friggieri, aged 34 and 45 respectively, together admitted to defrauding six establishments.Emanuel Friggieri admitted defrauding a further four companies. Julian Friggieri admitted to relapsing.

The companies involved were Crosscraft, which suffered fraud of €1,162; Tip Top €510; Ultimate €499; Ventura €500; Homemate €619; Doneo €604; The Tool Box, €140; AAK Grech Ltd, €300; R Grech Ironmongers, €245 and Handyman Centre €276.

Both brothers were sentenced to a two-year jail term suspended for four years and ordered to pay back all the money.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Schriha were defence counsel.