Two jailed for petrol station thefts

A 31 year-old homeless man and a 23 year-old youth from Cospicua have been jailed for stealing from petrol stations.

Gilbert Busuttil and Jesmond Cassar admitted to having stolen cash from the Automarket Service Station in Zebbug during the night between the 25 and 26 May this year.

Busuttil alone also admitted to having stolen from Pit Stop Service Station in Attard, Mr. Clean in Iklin, JAV Service Station in Qormi, Automarket in Zebbug, Paul and Rocco Petrol Station in Gzira and Sterling Petrol Station in Ta' Xbiex. The thefts took place between January and May this year.

Busuttil and Cassar pleaded guilty to further charges of violating terms of court sentences, with Busuttil further admitting to having breached bail conditions, imposed in separate criminal proceedings.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud sentenced Busuttil to 54 months in prison, jailing Cassar for 18 months. The men were also placed on a 3-year treatment order to address their drug addiction.

In a gesture more symbolic than punitive, the magistrate also ordered that the €147 in cash that the men had been carrying at the time of their arrest be donated to the Rise Foundation, which helps former prison inmates reintegrate into society.

Inspectors Elton Taliana, Jonathan Ransley and Roderick Agius prosecuted.