A man allegedly spurned by his former girlfriend was yesterday charged with trying to strangle her with a telephone cord on Valentine’s Day.

Stephen Vella, 34, of Qormi pleaded not guilty to the charge and to slightly injuring her during an argument at around 4.30 a.m. on Monday at her St Julians apartment. He also denied committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term.

He allegedly attacked the woman after she broke up with him last weekend and then turned down his attempts to get back with her.

Mr Vella was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €1,000, with Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona warning him that breaching bail was a serious crime that could get him jailed for six months.

The magistrate placed the woman under a protection order.

Police Inspector Malcolm Bondin prosecuted. Lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli appeared for the accused.

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