One month jail for breaching bail conditions

A 34-year-old man was yesterday jailed for one month for breaching his bail conditions when he was stalking a former girlfriend.

Stephen Portelli from Tarxien had pleaded not guilty to breaching his bail conditions by stalking the woman in June.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, heard that, earlier this year, a fight had broken out between Mr Portelli and his father on one side and his former girlfriend and her brother in Żejtun. Court proceedings in connection with the fight are still pending and Mr Portelli had been granted bail.

Chantelle Bianco testified that after Mr Portelli had been granted bail he had been following her wherever she went. Highlighting one incident in particular she said she went into a shop in Marsascala and while still in her car and on her mobile phone, Mr Portelli came over and snatched the phone from her. He then followed her as she drove to Żejtun. At one point, he threw the phone back at her, crying and telling her he loved her and wanted them to get back together.

After taking into consideration Ms Bianco's and her brothers' testimony and the evidence given by the court experts, the magistrate said it had no doubt that Mr Portelli had contacted her and, therefore, breached bail conditions.

The court noted that such breach was a serious matter and amounts to a challenge of the court's authority, adding that there is no reason why the court should exercise clemency with the accused.

The court said it resulted that Mr Portelli has five previous convictions and was given various chances to reform but chose not to take the opportunity.

Mr Portelli was subsequently jailed for one month.