A man was jailed for seven years today after he was found guilty of for stealing from petrol stations because of what he said were “crippling costs of cancer treatment” for his wife. She has since died.

Glen Debattista, 54, of Sta Venera, his 22-year-old son Ryan, of Mosta, and Matthew Portelli, 27, of San Gwann, had been charged with stealing from seven petrol stations.

The charges were for offences between September and November 2011.

The court heard how Mr Debattista had started stealing from petrol stations because of the costs for his wife’s cancer treatment.

Mr Debattista’s son was sentenced to two years suspended for four years after admitting to the charges. Mr Portelli’s case is still pending.