A 40-year-old man, who claimed to be the CEO of the Office of the Prime Minister, was jailed for eight months for defrauding a Sliema restaurant of €600.

Jason Manuel Briffa, from Swieqi, admitted to placing an order claiming that the food was for an office reception. He then went to pick up some of the food and told restaurant owner he would pay when he returned for the rest - but he never turned up.

On handing down judgment Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrerra noted that Mr Briffa filed a guilty plea and his father had paid back the restaurant owner. However, she noted, Mr Briffa - who was a drug addict - has a very colourful criminal record with many other convictions that included defrauding Dar Tal-Providenza.

The courts had given him several opportunities to change his ways but he had not and, in light of this, an effective jail term was required, she ruled.

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted while lawyer Noel Bianco represented the accused.