A British man was yesterday given a suspended jail term after he admitted defrauding three companies of €11,000 worth of goods two years ago.

George Clayton, 60, from East Sussex, had bought a watch from Edwards, Lowell Company worth €6,900, jewellery worth €2,830 from Classic Jewellers and electronic items from Ultimate Store.

He paid in cheques, which, however, bounced, and then left for the UK, Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna heard.

A European arrest warrant was issued and he was brought back to Malta two days ago to face fraud charges.

Defence lawyer Stefano Filletti told the magistrate that his client had paid the victims.

He also pointed out that Mr Clayton ended up without funds in his bank account because someone else who owed him money had failed to pay him.

Mr Clayton, who worked in marketing, said he was expecting his former Maltese employer to deposit money in his account at the time. However, that did not happen and he ended up with insufficient funds in his bank account to cover his shopping spree on luxury goods.

The police are contesting this version of events but did not elaborate.

Magistrate Apap Bologna handed down a two-year jail term suspended for three years.