A 27-year-old man from Dingli was charged yesterday with beating his former partner and holding her against her will.

Stephen Cilia, who in November of 2008 was charged with raping a 15-year-old girl, remained obsessed with his 27-year-old former partner – who is also the mother of his two children – despite the couple having broken up seven years ago, police sources told The Sunday Times.

Mr Cilia allegedly blocked his ex-lover’s car in Qormi on Thursday at about 7 p.m., forced his way inside and drove off with her car to his home in Dingli, where he beat her and threatened to kill her.

Ms Mallia eventually drove her own vehicle back to Qormi, from where Mr Cilia picked up his car. She arrived at her home in Żebbuġ at about 11 p.m. but did not file a report against the accused that night because he had followed her and she feared he could be waiting outside.

However, Ms Mallia went to the police the following day and Mr Cilia was charged yesterday.

He pleaded not guilty but was remanded in custody.

The incident happens just days after 40-year-old Christina Sammut was shot dead in Mġarr, allegedly by her obsessed ex-boyfriend .

Kenneth Gafà, who is being charged with Ms Sammut’s murder, had been reported to the police for allegedly chasing her with a knife a month before the fatal incident.