Young men stole from Senglea shop

Two young men were yesterday handed down suspended jail terms after they admitted to stealing around €4,660 (Lm2,000) worth of items from a shop in Senglea last year.

Donald Gilford, 21, of Cospicua and an 18-year-old whose name cannot be printed because he was a minor at the time of crime, admitted to stealing cash, mobile phone top-up cards and a mobile phone to the detriment of George Agius on February 2, 2007.

Magistrate Edwina Grima heard the two admit to holding Mr Agius against his will, the illegal possession of a weapon and damaging a car parked in Franġisku Zahra Square.

After taking into account the fact that the accused had collaborated with the police throughout the investigation, Magistrate Grima gave Mr Gilford a two-year prison term suspended for four years. The teenager was given an 18-month prison term suspended for four years.

Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Jeffrey Cilia prosecuted.

Lawyers Roberto Montalto and Chris Grima appeared for Mr Gilford.