A judge has ruled that a sentence, by virtue of which a man was jailed for two years for running a brothel, was null because the court had not pronounced itself on all charges.

Ian Camilleri had been jailed after the Magistrates' Court found him guilty of running a brothel and living off the earnings of prostitution on and before May 2005.

Mr Camilleri's co-accused, Ernest Pulis, had also been jailed for two years for the same offences.

Both men appealed, with Mr Camilleri claiming that the judgement was null.

Mr Justice David Scicluna upheld this ground of appeal and ruled that the Magistrates' Courts judgement was in fact null as the court had failed to abide by the procedure requested by law when it did not pronounce itself on alternative charges put against Mr Camilleri.

The judge put off the appeal to decide on the merits of the case.

Lawyers José Herrera and Roberto Montalto appeared for the accused.