An Italian national from Msida was jailed for a year yesterday after he was found guilty of attempted theft, violating others’ property and relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Gianluca Torres, 33, was cleared of stealing from two hotel rooms of a hotel in St Julian’s on 31 July 2005 but was found guilty of trying to steal from these two same rooms later that summer.

Three holiday-makers took the stand in the proceedings and identified the accused as being the same person they found lurking in their hotel rooms in the early hours of 4 September 2005.

Torres was sentenced to a year’s jail term for the crimes he committed.

Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted, while Magistrate Anthony Vella presided over the court.