A thief who admitted to committing five hold ups in Zebbug  between 2010 and 2011, had his appeal thrown out and a four year prison term confirmed.

53-year-old Emanuel Bartolo had admitted to stealing from De Rohan Pharmacy, Santa Maria Pharmacy, The Crop Seller Green Grocer, Intimate underwear shop and  Patrizio Hair Studio.

All four commercial outlets were in Zebbug and during all four hold ups, Bartolo carried an unlicensed weapon. In March last year a magistrate’s court handed him a four year jail term.

The court of appeal was told that Bartolo, deaf mute from birth, had a right to have his sentence reduced by a third. Furthermore he is mentally unable to reason like a man of his age, he admitted his guilt and fully cooperated with the police. He permanently resides at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia declared the court of magistrates had taken all this into consideration and imposed the minimum punishment. The court rejected the appeal and confirmed the four year jail term handed to Emanuel Bartolo.