Theft lands two behind bars

A man was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years when he admitted to stealing from a car and a shop and a co-accused was jailed for two years.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard Vincent Cucciardi, 46, of Senglea plead guilty to burgling a car and a shop and relapsing. The court found him guilty of all charges.

Mr Cucciardi's co-accused, Brian Mallia, 31, of Zabbar, pleaded not guilty to theft from the car and the shop and to stealing a cheque book from a hotel and to relapsing.

The magistrate found Mr Mallia guilty of theft from the shop and the hotel and relapsing and jailed him for two years.

She stressed that the difference in the jail term reflected Mr Cucciardi's criminal record, his sheet listing 10 convictions.

Police Inspector Carmelo Bartolo prosecuted.