A man currently serving a 22-year jail term for murdering his elderly neighbour in 1998 was yesterday jailed a further 20 months after he was found guilty of having drugs in his prison cell in September 2005.

Mario Pollacco, 50, had strangled the woman as he was robbing her.

The court heard the man told police the sachets of heroin and cannabis found in his cell hidden in Playmobil toys were not actually his, but was keeping them for another inmate.

However, he did not name this person because he feared for his life.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, heard correctional officers found the drugs wrapped in black tape hidden inside Playmobil motorcycle toys packed in a plastic bag inside his cell in Division 11.

They found nine sachets containing 7.6 grams of heroin and 1.3 grams of cannabis.

Magistrate Galea Sciberras Mr Pollacco of taking the drugs into jail himself and of conspiring with other people to traffic drugs in prison.

However, even though he claimed the drugs were not his own, he was still in possession of drugs that were not for his exclusive use.

She jailed him for 20 months and fined him €900. She also ordered Mr Pollacco to pay €800 in court expenses. Police inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted.