A 63-year-old man from St Paul's Bay has been jailed for two years after he was found guilty of defrauding various companies with dishonoured cheques in 2003.

Anthony Bezzina was jailed for defrauding four firms of a total of €3,200. The court heard how he used to buy goods and pay by cheques which would then bounce. He was convicted for defrauding S. Rausi trading in April 2003 and Ray's Jewellers, Dolce Freschi and Lorry Farrugia Wines and Spirits in May that year.

A representative of Bank of Valletta testified that the cheque book was linked to an account opened in December 1996 and closed in April 2003 after the bank received various reports of dishonoured cheques.

The bank also asked Mr Bezzina to return the cheque book but he never did. The bank told the court that the account had been opened with a deposit of €93 and never had a higher balance than this in all the years it was active.

Mr Bezzina testified that the cheques could not be cashed because he had not managed to deposit money into the account.

But Magistrate Giovanni Grixti said this justification was not credible at all, despite being under oath.

"With no stretch of the imagination could the court believe his version," the magistrate said as he found him guilty of all the charges and sentenced him to two years in jail.