A man who had been convicted of stealing a large amount of cigarettes from an importer was today imprisoned for two years after failing to pay for the stolen   cigarettes as ordered by a court.

Victor Scerri, 48  from Cospicua, along with his son and another man, had been convicted of stealing €88,000 worth of cigarettes from Antonio Piscopo Wines and Spirits. They would pack 200-cigarette cartons into boxes before loading them into their cars from a back door of the shop, the court had heard.

The three had been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for four years, and ordered to settle the value of the stolen cigarettes within six months.

However after Mr Scerri failed to pay for the cigarettes, a court today converted the suspended jail term into an effective one.

His son Manuel, 22, reached a payment agreement.