A man was jailed yesterday for failing to pay back almost €30,000 after stealing a huge amount of cigarettes from his former employer.

Victor Scerri, 47, and his 21-year-old son Manuel, both from Cospicua, together with Emanuel Meilak, 21, from Kalkara, had been sentenced in November to two years in jail, suspended for four years, after taking €88,000 of cigarettes.

All three worked at Antonio Piscopo Wines and Spirits. The court heard they would pack 200-cigarette cartons into boxes before loading them into their cars from a back door of the shop.

Mr Meilak paid back his share – which amounted to €29,000 – while Manuel Scerri entered into a repayment agreement. His father failed to pay back the money, contrary to a court order to make the payment within six months of the judgment.

The victim filed a complaint to the duty magistrate that payment had not been made.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale ordered that the two-year jail term be brought into force.

Police inspector Michael Mallia prosecuted.