Drunken party-goer sprains police officer's wrist

A drunken Englishman was yesterday placed under probation for three years after he admitted to having sprained the wrist of a policewoman resisting arrest while drunk.

Brandon Chase, 23, of St Paul's Bay, attended a staff party at a hotel and then went to a Paceville bar. He was found on a pavement in Swieqi after becoming too drunk to look after himself, Police Inspector Martin Sammut said in court.

Officers picked him up and took him to St Julians police station, informing him that they would be placing him in a cell but would be free to leave when he was sober again.

Mr Chase was having none of that and took off, with officers in hot pursuit. They stopped him and, as they tried to arrest him, he kicked and resisted and sprained the wrist of a female officer, the inspector said.

Legal Procurator Peter Paul Zammit, appearing for the accused, told the court his client could not even remember being arrested but was very sorry for his actions.

This point was also echoed by Inspector Sammut who also said the accused was very sorry for his actions and had apologised to the police officers involved.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella, presiding over her first arraignment since being appointed magistrate on September 29, placed the accused under probation after considering that he had entered an early guilty plea and had no prior convictions.