An unlicensed driver with a string of traffic-related offences which included a high-speed chase across Malta has been jailed for a total of 16 months and fined almost €9,000.

Dustin Bugeja, 22, from Birkirkara, appeared before Magistrate Francesco Depasquale charged with six traffic-related cases between August 2010 and September 2014. He was jailed over three cases and fined over the rest.

In the first case, he was convicted of driving a car recklessly, dangerously at 2.15am on August 27, 2010. He had been stopped on the Regional Road by traffic police when he was overspeeding and not wearing his seatbelt. He also   prevented the police from carrying out their duties.

The court ruled that his version of events was "absolutely not credible" and he was imprisoned for three months.

The second case was over a high-speed chase across Malta at 11.30pm on September 21, 2011, while he was driving a vehicle with foreign registration plates.

He was found guilty of driving negligently, carelessly and in a dangerous manner, over speeding, disregarding continuous white lines, driving through one-way streets, failing to use the indicator, driving on the wrong side of the road, failing to stop at stop signs, driving without a road licence or insurance cover.

Even over this case, the court ruled that the explanation he gave in court was not credible and he was jailed for nine months.

Another case took place on October 25, 2013, at 1.45am.Mr Bugeja was jailed for four months after having been found guilty of driving a vehicle with foreign registration plates when he had no driving licence, driving negligently and of refusing to give his details to the police when he was stopped.

The court fined Mr Bugeja €2,600 after finding him guilty of driving negligently and without a driving license on August 12 last year and of breaching previous court orders.

Over another case last August 31, Mr Bugeja was fined €3,000 for driving a vehicle when he was unlicensed and of breaching previous court orders.

In the last case, to which he admitted, Mr Bugeja was found guilty of driving a car on September 29 last year when he was unlicensed and when the car was not covered by a road licence and an insurance cover. He had been stopped in Rue d'Argens in Msida at 10.10pm. Over this case, Magistrate Depasquale fined him €3,000.

Police Inspector Maria Stella Attard prosecuted while lawyer Anna Portelli was defence counsel.