A man was sent to 30 months in jail today for robbing a 77-year-old woman whom he surprised in her bedroom after she returned home from Mass, two years ago.

James Agius, 27, from Floriana, was sent behind bars by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja after pleading guilty at an advanced stage of proceedings.

His conviction follows that of his accomplice, a minor, who had been sentenced to 24 months in jail, suspended for three years.

The court heard how the minor had admitted all charges and even disclosed the identity of Mr Agius who was subsequently charged on five counts including stealing jewellery, holding the woman against her will and inflicting her slight injuries.

During proceedings it transpired that on November 19, 2014, the victim who lived in Valletta, came face to face with her aggressors in her own bedroom immediately after returning home after some errands.

The woman had testified that after being pushed on her bed, she was muzzled with some tape and her feet tied up.

When she pleaded to them to let her free, she was warned to lower her voice and one of the aggressors ripped off a gold choker she was wearing, the victim said.

The robbers fled away after taking some other valuables.

The victim testified that after managing to remove the tape from her mouth, she crawled to the telephone and sought help from the police. However, she failed to recognise the two men in court, saying that her aggressors were hardly identifiable as they had been wearing a large pair of sun glasses.

In its ruling, the court remarked how the victim had been left in a state of shock for a long time and suffered from a mild anxiety attack. It also pointed out that the case could have had tragic consequences as she could have died asphyxiated.

While taking in consideration that the accused had compensated the victim with the sum of €1,100 it noted how six years before, he had been convicted for causing grievous injuries in a separate case and placed on a probation order.

Consequently, the accused had already been given an opportunity to reform himself but to no avail and so opted for a jail term, Magistrate Bugeja ruled.
Lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili were defence counsel while police inspector Carlos Cordina prosecuted.