A man who robbed a winery in Gozo of some €30,000 and then returned the money has been handed a two-year effective jail term despite being forgiven by his theft victim.

William Boakye, 37, Uganda-born, admitted to the aggravated theft at Bacchus Winery in Fontana, Gozo. 

Following his arrest and prosecution, Mr Boakye had earned the forgiveness of the victim of the theft, with the owner declaring in open court that he had received €29,950 from the accused "in full and final settlement of all claims" in his regard.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud took note of the nature of the offence on one hand and, on the other, the accused’s cooperation with the police, his clean criminal record, his early guilty and the fact that the stolen money had been returned.

In the light of all this, the court declared the man guilty and condemned him to a jail term of two years. 

Inspector Bernard Charles Spiteri prosecuted. Lawyer Jean Paul Grech was defence counsel.