A 20-year-old man from Zebbug was today jailed for three years for his participation in a violent attempted robbery in Rabat when he was 17.

Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca told the court that the man took part in a hold-up on a farm at Tal-Kanuni, limits of Rabat, with two other men.

One of the victims, Lee Cortis had told the police that two men had forced their way into the farm. One carried a sawn-off shotgun and the other a pistol. Mr Cortis said his grandmother Grazia Camilleri and grandfather were hit with the butt of the shotgun but nothing was stolen and they escaped in a green VW Golf.

The inspector said the police later found the Golf parked in Guze Flores Square in Rabat with two men in it and two outside.

The two men inside the car told the police that the accused was the getaway driver.

Court psychiatrist Ettienne Muscat said that as a result of the assault Mrs Camilleri had remained in a state of constant apprehension and was over-vigilant and jumpy. She was often convinced that assailants had returned. Her personality had deteriorated so that she was unable to participate in even basic conversation.

The court said evidence proved that the accused had been on the site of the hold-up and jailed him for three years.