A man who tried to attack his wife with a metal pipe has been given a suspended jail term after the court heard they were on good terms again.

Anthony Grima, 57, from Kalkara, was found guilty of attempting to seriously injure his wife, Anna, during an argument at their home in Rinella in 2012.

He was also found guilty of slightly injuring her.

The couple’s son, Amadeo, who intervened to stop his father, told the court he was asleep in the sitting room when he heard his parents arguing.

He heard his mother say: “Leave me, you’re hurting me.”

He went to their bedroom and took his mother away. Seconds later, his father appeared, holding a metal pipe, which Amadeo managed to grab.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard that when the police arrived they noticed Ms Grima had several injuries, including on her knees, and a bite mark. She said she had fallen down the stairs.

Police Inspector Frankie Sammut, prosecuting, said Ms Grima told them that when her son was still young her husband had tried to stab her but had hit his son in the leg.

Ms Grima appeared in court on three occasions. On the first two she refused to proceed with the case but then testified and denied any incident had taken place. She told the court that medical certificates issued by doctors certifying her injuries were all nonsense.

She eventually admitted the incident had taken place and explained that her husband had tried to hit her with the pipe.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke said the incident was a serious one and could have had serious consequences.