Two young musicians caught on CCTV vandalising cars parked along Pieta’ seafront early on Sunday have each been handed a suspended sentence and ordered to pay for the damages after pleading guilty in court.

Lucas Wanderley Dos Santos, 22, born in Brazil and residing in Sliema and Ivan Arapov, 24, born in Croatia and residing at Birzebbugia, both members of a band, were recorded kicking car doors, mudguards and mirrors, leaving a trail of damage in their wake.

One of the culprits appeared to have been carrying a guitar at the time that the drunken rampage took place close to 5.30am.

The footage was subsequently uploaded on social media and the two were quickly identified.  

Although a police report was filed identifying the suspected vandals, it was the latter themselves who turned up at the police station sensing that there was no way they could escape the public eye.

Standing side by side before duty magistrate Neville Camilleri on Tuesday morning the two, now sober, men admitted to the multiple charges of having caused wilful damage to nine vehicles amongst which were a Mitsubishi Pajero Junior, an Alfa Romeo, a Honda Accord and a Mercedes Benz.

They also pleaded guilty to having been drunk in public. 

Rootz Bar, where the two musicians played, has said they are no longer welcome to play there.

Upon their own admission and in view of recommendations by the prosecution and the defence to condemn both accused to a suspended term of imprisonment, magistrate Camilleri declared the accused guilty and handed each a 2-year jail term suspended for 4 years.

The Court further ordered the men to pay jointly between them, within three months, the sum of €2,982 by way of damages caused. 

Inspector Lara Butters prosecuted.

Lawyer Yanika Camilleri was defence counsel.