A man from Swieqi was jailed for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to stealing two cheque books and defrauding several companies.

Richard Flattley, 56, pleaded guilty, before presiding Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, to stealing two company chequebooks from a car parked next to the Detox centre in October 2005 to the detriment of Marcel Bonello.

He was also accused of causing up to Lm50 of damage to Mr Bonello’s car and stealing number plates to the detriment of Rachel Agius.

Flattley also pleaded guilty to defrauding several companies of less than Lm10,000 and relapsing.

In handing down his judgement, Magistrate Quintano noted Flattley’s guilty plea, his criminal record and that he cooperated with the police and jailed him for a total of 18 months.

Police inspector Kevin Borg prosecuted.