A Cuban man who robbed a stationery owner at knife point on Saturday morning and then spent all his 'earnings' at a casino was this afternoon jailed for four years after admitting to the charges.

Eliseo Carrillo Montoro, 26, who holds an Italian identity card, last Tuesday pleaded guilty to stealing €2,515 from Eros Stationery in Paceville and holding shop owner John Attard Kingswell at knife point.

The court heard Police Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Carol Fabri explain how Mr Montoro had arrived in Malta from Italy just the day before the robbery. After the criminal act, he shaved his hair in an attempt to change his appearance and later that day spent the money stolen in the hold-up at the Oracle Casino in Bugibba.

Handing down judgment, Magistrate Charmaine Galea said that what Mr Montoro had done was "very serious", especially when considering that he had only been in Malta for less than a day. 

She said Mr Montoro is unemployed and there is very little hope that the stationery owner gets compensated for his losses. 

The magistrate therefore jailed the Cuban for four years and ordered him not to harass Mr Attard Kingswell in any way, against a €2,000 fine in default.