A taxi driver was yesterday jailed for seven years and nine months and fined €20,000 after he admitted to being in possession of cocaine and ecstasy.

Vincent Cucciardi, 42, of Qormi was meant to stand trial by jury but decided to file a guilty plea to possession with the intent to sell. In 2006, he was found with 49 grams of cocaine which was 21 per cent pure and nearly 1,000 ecstasy pills.

In the bill of indictment, the Attorney General said Mr Cucciardi’s garage was searched on October 4, 2006, as part of a police investigation. The police found €3,950 in cash, a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, a knife and pepper spray. Drugs were found hidden in the driver’s side door of his Alfa Romeo car.

Mr Cucciardi told the police in a statement that he took drugs at weekends but had never sought any help to kick his habit.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia took into consideration the plea bargaining with the Attorney General’s office before jailing him.