A 70-year-old man was jailed for three years on Sunday after he admitted to having sexually abused two 15-year-old boys, giving them money or food in exchange for oral sex.

Police were put on John Zammit’s tracks by an anonymous tip-off and the accused subsequently admitted to the charges while being interrogated by police. Mr Zammit, a Valletta resident, worked part-time at a pastizzi shop, a court heard. 

Asked by magistrate Audrey Demicoli about the frequency of such acts, inspector Joseph Busuttil said there had been three incidents with one minor and two with the other.

Legal aid Dustin Camilleri had sought a suspended sentence for his client, considering that he was a separated man with grandchildren and his police conduct was nearly clean. He added that the accused had said he was sorry for his acts.

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