A man wanted by the Latvian authorities for digging up a grave for “non-traditional” medicinal purposes was sentenced to five years in jail for stealing from Belgravia Auction Gallery in St Julian’s.

Karlis Meirs, 23, from Latvia, is expected to be extradited once he serves his time in Malta. Back home, he will face charges for digging up a grave while under the influence of alcohol.

He was found guilty of stealing four antique firearms from the auction gallery in St Julian’s after breaking a shop window, of attempted theft from Classic Jewellers in Sliema and a hold-up at Nouvelle Idee in May 2011.

A co-accused, Perry Thomas Bilsborrow, who in separate proceedings admitted involvement in one of the cases, told the court that he used to live with a friend of the accused, Albert Tanti, in Sliema.

He said that Mr Meirs had told them that he had broken a window at the auction gallery and, although the burglar alarm had gone off, he still went in and took four firearms.

Mr Tanti was supposed to try to find ammunition for the firearms but, by the next day, the accused had already managed to sell one of the weapons.

An argument broke out between Mr Tanti and Mr Meirs. They came to blows and Mr Tanti walked out, taking one of the stolen weapons with him. The next day Mr Tanti was arrested after the police found him in possession of the weapon.

Mr Bilsborrow said that, on May 16, 2011, he and Mr Meirs had walked down to Classic Jewellers at the corner of St Vincent Street, Sliema. He lifted the accused on his shoulders who used wire cutters to slice the CCTV system cable.

The accused then tried to smash one of the glass panels on the side of the shop but failed to break it and they returned to the apartment they used in St Vincent Street.

Early in the morning they walked to the Strand and sat down on a bench across the road from the jewellery. The plan was to await the arrival of the salesgirls and get into the shop when they lifted the shutter. When the salesgirls arrived, they were unable to open the shutter electronically and had to do it manually with the help of other people.

When the two tried to get into the shop, the salesgirls called the police and the men fled.

They attempted another robbery on the second jewellery shop but the salesgirl shouted for help and also managed to identify them.