Making the sign of the cross and sobbing loudly, four Nigerian men yesterday literally went down to their knees in court thanking the magistrate on finding out that they had not been jailed for possessing false Spanish resident permits.

Gbenga Ayedun, 32, Steve Sunday, 22, Osas Kinsley, 29, and Samuel Isibor, 24, admitted to possessing false resident permits on Sunday as stood sheepishly in the dock visibly bewildered by the experience of being charged in a court of law.

After pleading guilty to the charges, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera handed down a two year jail term suspended for four years.

Legal aid lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores explained to the accused that they wil not actually go to jail.

Falling to their knees, the four men lifted their hands high in the air, making the sign of the cross, sobbing loudly and gesturing to the magistrate, thanking her for "setting us free".

The unusual scene carried on for a few minutes until the men were ushered out of the court by the police.

The court had also heard earlier that Mr Isibor had escaped from the Hal Far detention centre and would be returned.

Police Inspector Mario Haber prosecuted.