[attach id=497864 size="medium"][/attach]

A man has been jailed for seven years after admitting to a string of thefts which include a 19th-century painting from the Ta’ Ġieżu church in Valletta.

Eric Sapiano, 46, from Sliema stole the 1861 painting by Antonio Falzon on February 22, 2012.

The painting adorned a small side altar in a section of the church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

He was also found guilty of stealing an antique vase from the Stella Maris parish church in Sliema, a silver chalice from the Safi church last August, and a silver vase from St Paul’s church, Valletta, last year, stealing an antique vase from St Publius parish church in Floriana on April 18, 2015, in possession of a stolen silver plate bearing the St Dominic emblem and the illegal possession of items of cultural heritage.

The value of the stolen items is estimated to run into the thousands of euros.

In November 2012, Mr Sapiano had been given a six-month suspended jail term for stealing a 1812 painting by Giuseppe Hyzler from the Ta’ Ġieżu church in Rabat. He said he did so out of anger for what had happened to him during his lifetime.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja ordered the man to pay €3,800 in court expenses and placed him under a treatment order.

Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted.