A man who was charged with threatening police officers and disobeying their orders was yesterday warned by a magistrate that his foolish acts could land him in jail with a €5,000 fine.

The court heard a brawl broke out outside a bar in Birżebbuġa in the early hours of Friday morning.

It had started to break up when an officer arrived at the scene but village resident Roger Agius, 36, allegedly hurled obscenities at him.

The officer, who had been in the police station alone, threatened to use pepper spray when Mr Agius became abusive, the court heard.

He was eventually arrested when officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit arrived.

Once at the police station, Mr Agius allegedly threatened officers, including a police inspector, telling them he knew where they lived.

“Look where your foolishness has got you,” Magistrate Miriam Hayman told him.

Mr Agius was charged with threatening the officers, disobeying orders, breaching the peace and swearing in public. He was bailed against a personal guarantee of €10,000.