A man who bought a television set 14 years ago and refused to pay for it in a dispute over its size was given a suspended jail term after he was found guilty of fraud.

Thomas Vella, 48, of Paola, was given a one-year jail term suspended for two years after he refused to pay for the TV set he had purchased in 2001 arguing that it was 2.5 centimetres smaller than the one he wanted.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard that Mr Vella had purchased the TV set from Raymond Cutajar in Żabbar.

Mr Cutajar, his father, Gaetano, and their helper, Kenneth Buttigieg, testified that Mr Vella bought a Grundig TV set but failed to pay arguing that it was 2.5 centimetres smaller than the one he had wanted.

Mr Vella denied buying a TV set from Mr Cutajar, saying he had bought a stereo that was faulty. He testified that the shopkeeper had taken so long to repair the equipment that he had to resort to the Consumer Affairs Unit.

The court ruled that three witnesses could not all be wrong, especially after the helper had testified that he had personally loaded the TV set into Mr Vella’s car.

Magistrate Hayman sentenced Mr Vella to a year in jail term suspended for two years.

Police Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted.