An inmate was yesterday jailed for two years and eight months, just five months after serving a 20-year jail term.

Silvio Pace, 43, of Ħamrun, pleaded guilty to stealing about €2,000 worth of jewellery and money from a house in Santa Venera in March and another €2,000 worth of items from a Msida residence last December.

Mr Pace had been jailed for life, reduced to 20 years on appeal, after he had been found guilty of helping cause an explosion in Paola in 1992 that accidentally led to the death of a young mother and her baby.

He was released late last year but earlier this month was jailed again for one and a half years on theft-related charges.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri said the police had managed to trace a mobile phone, stolen from the Msida residence, to Mr Pace’s daughter.

A request was made for fingerprint testing, which proved that Mr Pace was involved in both crimes. A footprint that matched his shoe was also found.

In submissions on punishment, Mr Fleri and defence counsel Veronique Dalli asked Magistrate Neville Camilleri for a prison sentence of more than two years to allow Mr Pace to take part in a residential drug rehabilitation programme.

Magistrate Camilleri jailed him for two years and eight months and recommended the prison director to enrol Mr Pace in the rehabilitation programme.

Police Inspector James Grech also prosecuted. Lawyer José Herrera also appeared for Mr Pace.