Jailed for petrol station thefts

A teenager was jailed for 19 months after he admitted to his involvement in stealing about Lm3,000 from the safes of four automated service stations in January.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano heard Matthew Portelli, 19 of San Gwann, plead guilty to stealing the cash from the four service stations while he was on probation.

On handing down judgement the magistrate noted that Mr Portelli had filed an early guilty plea and had returned some of the stolen money.

The magistrate could not ignore that the theft was carried out while he was on probation and that it constituted a string of thefts.

Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.