A man who stole cash from four petrol stations was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years.

One of the raids took place the day after he was released from a four-year jail term, the court heard.

His accomplices got off with slightly lighter sentences.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that homeless Stephen Mifsud, 39, had 25 convictions on his criminal record.

He had been convicted of theft, causing slight injury to minors, living off the earnings of prostitution and trafficking heroin, the magistrate said. He was given suspended jail terms, probation orders and also imprisoned. However, he had not learnt his lesson and she felt that he had to realise what he had done. His friends, Ryan Debattista, 20, from Mosta and Steve Galea, 19, from Qormi both admitted to taking part in the thefts.

Mr Debattista also admitted to breaching bail conditions. The magistrate jailed him for one month for breaching bail and handed down a two-year jail term suspended for four years for the theft.

Mr Galea received an 18-month jail term suspended for four years after the court noted he was a first-time offender.

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