Knife-wielding thief is jailed for four years

A court has jailed an Italian man who, on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to robbing a Paceville stationery at knife point last Saturday.

Eliseo Carrillo Montoro, 26,  who holds an Italian identity card but is of Cuban descent, was charged by Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Carol Fabri with committing a theft of €2,515 from Eros Stationary in Paceville, a crime aggravated by the use of violence and the value of the items stolen. 

Inspector Fleri had told the court that the robber had threatened shop owner John Attard Kingswell at knife point, before making off with the money. The takings are believed to have been spent later that night at the casino.

Montoro had pleaded guilty straight away.

Magistrate Charmaine Galea, in deciding on punishment, took into account the serious nature of the crimes and the fact that the accused had only been in Malta for one day before committing the theft. The fact that Montoro is unemployed gave little hope of reimbursement to the victims, noted the court.

Montoro was sentenced to four years imprisonment, also being ordered not to contact or otherwise molest the shopowner against a €2,000 guarantee and made to pay the costs of the case.

Legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.