Two men and a woman were yesterday jailed, for terms ranging from 16 to 42 months, for robbing an elderly man in his Sliema home.

Martin Tabone, 51, and Charlon Taliana, 26, both of St Paul's Bay, were jailed for three-and-a-half years and three years, respectively, after they admitted to holding 78-year-old Joseph Grech against his will, slightly injuring him and robbing him on July 6, 2002.

Marita Grima, 27, of Bugibba was jailed for 16 months after Magistrate Abigail Lofaro found her guilty of her involvement in the armed robbery.

Magistrate Lofaro heard how on July 6, 2002, Grima knocked at the door of Joseph Grech's Sliema house, asked him for money and he gave her Lm2.

She then went to tell Tabone and Taliana that Grech was home, knowing that they intended to rob him but not knowing that they would hurt him.

So the two men knocked at Grech's door, both carrying a knife, and when he opened they asked him for his money. Grech gave them Lm20 from his wallet but the men wanted more. One of the men searched his house while the other held him at knifepoint.

On handing down judgment Magistrate Lofaro noted that all three defendants had a criminal record. She ordered that the time they spent in preventive custody be deducted from their jail term.

Police Inspectors Angelo Caruana and Frans Micallef prosecuted.