Three jailed over theft of car and fuel

Three men were each given a prison sentence after pleading guilty to stealing a vehicle and fuel earlier today.

Prosecuting inspector Jonathan Ransley arraigned 27-year old Palestinian Ahmed Yakoup; Jason Mifsud, 38, of Sliema and Wayne Delia, 28, of Paola over charges of theft.

Delia and Yakoup were also charged with breaching bail conditions while Mifsud was charged with committing an offence during a suspended sentence.

The three men stole a Tata Suma from Triq il-Karmelitani, Balluta and went for a joyride. However, when they arrived at Ta’ Xbiex the vehicle ran out of fuel.

The accused stole diesel from a number of parked cars on order to fire up the stolen vehicle. However all attempts to start the Tata again proved futile.

Following an anonymous tip off, police from the St Julian’s District went to Ta’Xbiex where the three men were arrested. Officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit assisted in the arrests.

Noting their guilty plea, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera handed a year’s jail term to each of the accused.

Furthermore, Delia is to serve an additional four months for breaching bail, Yakoup had his personal guarantee converted into jail time and Mifsud’s suspended sentence was brought into effective imprisonment.