Two men were yesterday jailed for a total of six years between them after they admitted to stealing cash and other items from four establishments over five months.

Charles Cutajar, 42, of Marsascala and Malcolm Brian Mercieca, 20, of Kalkara were charged with stealing cash and mobile phones during a hold-up at Terranova, in Pietà, holding people against their will and being in possession of a firearm last August 30.

They were also charged with stealing cash from Pisani Electrical Supplies, in Valletta, and causing over Lm50 damage to the shop on August 28 and with relapsing.

Mr Cutajar was also charged with involvement in stealing cash from Dr Zarb Clinic, holding Christopher Zarb against his will and with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was also charged with complicity in stealing cash from Federico Vella at the Blata l-Bajda Pharmacy last September 3.

Mr Mercieca was charged with complicity in an attempted robbery from St Anne's Pharmacy, in Marsascala, on September 3, with breaking into three cars and with committing the crimes during the operative period of a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti jailed Mr Cutajar for two and a half years and Mr Mercieca for 18 months.

He also ordered that the two-year suspended jail term that had been given to Mr Mercieca come into effect bringing his total jail time to three and a half years.

Police Inspectors Silvio Valletta and Ramon Cassar prosecuted.