Three youngsters who held two women at knifepoint in Gżira, stealing their car, have been spared jail despite previous convictions.

Libyan nationals Kahled Mahmud Abdulkasem, 19, Mohamed Abungab, 22, and a 15-year-old Maltese boy from St Paul’s Bay admitted to the charges brought against them after having previously pleaded not guilty.

They were arrested following a report by the two women that they had been robbed at knifepoint outside their Gżira home at 3.30am on May 21. The aggressors then escaped in a Peugeot 306 belonging to one of the victims.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona noted that all three had previous convictions and had committed the crime during the operative terms of conditional discharges. Mr Abdulkasem had also breached a suspended sentence handed down in May 2014.

Mr Abdulkasem was fined €2,336 and an additional €116 for carrying a weapon. Moreover, he had his suspended jail term extended for a further four years.

Mr Abungab and the minor were placed on probation for three years and fined €116 for carrying the weapon.

Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Jonathan Ransley prosecuted.

Lawyer Noel Bianco appeared for the Libyans.

Lawyer David Gatt appeared for the Maltese teen.

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