Three men were yesterday found guilty of beating up a man and seriously injuring him in Floriana earlier this month.

Guido Whitelaw, 46, from San Gwann was jailed for two years suspended for four while Algerian national Ikhal Haddawi, 33, from Bugibba and Reuben Xuereb, 24, from San Gwann were both conditionally discharged for three years.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro heard the three mean pleading guilty to the charges brought against them including that of seriously injuring George Borg from Floriana and threatening his girlfriend Nadesh Micallef. The court heard that on the night of 2 and 3 July, Mr Borg was with his girlfriend in The Family Bar in Floriana when the three men entered the bar and told him to go outside.

When Mr Borg refused, they grabbed him and forced him out of the bar and into a parked car. The court heard that Mr Borg worked as Whitelaw’s handyman and the latter was accusing Mr Borg of stealing various items while he was working for him including a television, two mobiles and a shotgun.

The court heard that Mr Borg and Ms Micallef had forgiven the accused for what they had done although during the incident Mr Borg had his front tooth chipped as well as other facial injuries. Magistrate Lofaro jailed Whitelaw for two years suspended for four in view of previous convictions, while the other two men were discharged on condition that they do not commit another crime for a period of three years.