A Tarxien man was yesterday jailed for 14 months for slightly injuring his estranged girlfriend with a knife after an argument over their daughter four years ago.

James Demanuele, 29, was found guilty of slightly injuring Helena Felice when he assaulted her with a knife on August 11, 1999, but was cleared of seriously injuring her.

Demanuele was also found guilty of slightly injuring Felice's mother, Josephine, and of possession of a knife at the time of the commission of the crime.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how Demanuele assaulted Felice after they argued over their daughter and slightly injured her mother.

The magistrate noted that Demanuele turned himself in to the police soon after the incident. But on handing down judgment she also noted that Demanuele's criminal record listed 11 convictions over six years.

He had been given several chances to change his ways yet kept breaking the law and in light of such circumstances imprisonment was appropriate, she ruled.

Inspectors David Saliba and Marisa Camilleri prosecuted.

Dr Joseph Giglio appeared for Demanuele.