An Englishman was yesterday jailed for three years and three months and fined Lm50 after pleading guilty to slightly injuring two men, one of them a 72-year-old man, during a robbery in Qawra last November.

Martin Andrew Hall, 36, from Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the theft of under Lm1,000 to the detriment of 72-year-old Joseph Griscti in Qawra at 11.30am on 16 November.

Hall also pleaded guilty to holding Mr Griscti and Eric Bernard against their will and of slightly injuring them with a sharp and pointed instrument. He also pleaded guilty to carrying the knife without a police permit and being in possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli jailed Hall for a total of three years and three months and fined him Lm50. He also ordered the accused to pay Lm300 in court expenses related to the magisterial inquiry.

Police inspectors Carmelo Bartolo and Josric Mifsud prosecuted while Dr Leslie Cuschieri appeared for the accused as his legal aid.