Jesmond Cassar, 39, from Cospicua, who was recaptured last week after escaping custody, has been jailed for two years and nine months.

He was convicted of breaching bail conditions and escaping while in the custody of a nurse at Mater Dei Hospital.

Mr Cassar had explained in court that he had escaped because he did not want to go back to the psychiatric hospital where he was being kept by court order. He claimed he had been subjected to sexual advances from another patient.

He was re-arrested within 24 hours in Marsa.

The court condemned him to imprisonment for two years and three months for breaching conditions of probation and three months for escaping custody.

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