Maximillian Ciantar was this morning jailed for three months, fined €1,165 and had his driving licence suspended for a year after magistrate Jacqueline Padovani found him guilty of driving when he had his licence suspended.

Mr Ciantar, 21, from Marsa, was only 10 days into the six-month driving ban when he was caught, in late November, at the wheel of a car in Ħamrun.

He had originally been granted bail but following an incident in which he allegedly tried to attack two court reporters, his bail was revoked by a judge following an appeal by the Attorney General.

In handing down judgement this morning, Magistrate Padovani remarked Mr Ciantar had defied the authorities.

She denied a request by the prosecution for his father's car, which he had been driving when he was caught, to be confiscated by the police.

She said the car, which belongs to the father, was not taken with Mr Ciantar's permission. On the contrary, the evidence showed exactly the opposite so she did not see why it should be confiscated.