A bar crawl too far

A Romanian man who broke into a bar after downing a few bottles of wine and some shots of whisky was yesterday given a suspended jail term.

The man, 31-year-old Vasile Danciu, who lives in Paceville, had been drinking with family and friends at an apartment and then decided to go to the entertainment mecca with the group, including his brother-in-law, at about 6 p.m. on Sunday.

They headed straight for Clique Bar, in St Georges Road, however they found the bar closed. The accused and his brother-in-law forced their way in and started drinking alcohol, even breaking a few bottles, Police Inspector Nikolai Sant said.

Mr Danciu admitted to stealing alcohol and causing €500 in damages to the door of the bar. He also admitted threatening two police officers, disobeying orders, breaching the public peace and being drunk to the point of being unable to take care of himself.

A police patrol found the men inside the bar and arrested Mr Danciu and his brother-in-law. However, the brother-in-law could not be arraigned yet because he was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital after damaging his cell and acting up overnight, the officer said.

In submissions on punishment, the prosecuting officer said that, in view of his cooperation with the police, a suspended jail term would be adequate, a point agreed upon by legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli imposed a two-year jail term suspended for four. Mr Danciu was also ordered to pay €500 to the bar owner in order to repair the door.