A man was today jailed for 40 months after he was found guilty by a Magistrates’ Court on two separate charges of aggravated theft.

Robert Galea, 36, was accused of stealing jewellery and other items from a private residence in Naxxar five years ago. The robbery took place one June morning in 2012 from a house in St Publius Street. The value of the stolen valuables exceeded €5,000.

The following year, in November 2013, the accused struck again, targeting the offices at a construction site along the Vittoriosa Waterfront. The second coup resulted in the man making off with various items valued at €16,179.50.

The accused was also charged with relapsing.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, declared the man guilty upon his own admission.

When sentencing the accused, the magistrate took note of the gravity of the offences as well as the man's “voluminous criminal record” which referred to a variety of offences including thefts and the handling of stolen goods.

It was observed that although the accused had confessed to his involvement in the thefts when releasing a statement to the police, a guilty plea had been registered “at a very late stage” in the proceedings.

The court condemned the accused to a jail term of 40 months and ordered him to foot the bill of €1,962.61 relative to court expert expenses.

Inspector James Grech prosecuted.