Car thief jailed

A 26-year-old man was yesterday jailed for three-and-a-half years for trying to steal two cars and breaking into another 19 vehicles while his 20-year-old friend was given a suspended jail term for complicity.

David Vella, of Pembroke, was jailed for three-and-a-half years while Mario Barbara, of Gudja, was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years after they admitted to the charges brought against them.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that since Vella was first arraigned over cannabis possession, in 1996, he had appeared in court on another five occasions over different charges including involvement in a hold-up. Therefore Vella had not made good use of previous opportunities given to him by the court.

Although he had filed an early guilty plea and cooperated with the police, the court could not transmit the message that someone with such a criminal record would not be sent to jail if he pleaded guilty or cooperated with the police.

Barbara, on the other hand, had only a minor contravention on his criminal record.

The magistrate recommended the prison authorities to assist Vella overcome his drug problem.

Police Inspectors Mario Tonna and Carmelo Abdilla prosecuted.