A man was given a two-year jail term after he admitted to sending anonymous poison pen letters to Nationalist MPs and others who criticised the government.

John Mary Borg, 71, was also ordered to pay a total of €1,600 in fines by Magistrate Astrid May Grima on Thursday morning.

Borg was charged with sending the disturbing letters to the private residences of Opposition MPs Beppe Fenech Adami and Ryan Callus, former MP Jason Azzopardi, Repubblika activist Robert Aquilina, as well as newspaper columnist Prof. Kevin Cassar.

He was also charged with threatening and insulting Aquilina and his brother, PN MP Karol Aquilina, as well as with harassing and threatening Karol Aquilina and causing Robert Aquilina to fear violence, threatening MPs during the course of their duties, harassing Prof. Cassar and his wife as well as causing them to fear violence.

He had admitted the charges in a previous sitting.

The court recommended that Borg be held at the Forensic Unit, rather than amongst the prison’s general population. A protection order was also issued in favour of the victims, secured by a €2,000 personal guarantee.

Borg gave notice of appeal.

Inspectors Kevin Pulis and Ryan Farrugia prosecuted. Lawyers Henry Antoncich and Joseph Calleja assisted Borg. Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia represented the victims.