The fourth member of a gang of four, charged with attempting to rob the Birkirkara home belonging to the employer of one of them, was handed a suspended sentence after admitting to his involvement in the crime.

Read: Teen attempted to rob his own employer, court told

Melchior Portelli, a 21-year old driver from Qormi, was arraigned on Monday over the attempted burglary which had taken place late in the afternoon on July 28.

In view of the fact that the accused had fully cooperated with the police and only had a traffic offence on his criminal record for recidivism purposes, duty magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit declared him guilty, handing down a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

Inspector Elton Taliana prosecuted. Lawyer Lucio Sciriha was defence counsel.