A Finnish man was this afternoon remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to seriously injuring a man whose car he tried to steal.

Tatu Antero Oksanen, 33, denied seriously injuring Christopher Vassallo in Paceville at 5.30am yesterday.

Police Inspector Elton Taliana told the court the accused had tried to break into Mr Vassallo's Peugeot Partner. When Mr Vassallo confronted him, Mr Oksanen smashed a full bottle of wine he had in his hand and attacked Mr Vassallo with it.

Mr Vassallo suffered a deep laceration to his face and required 12 sutures. As if that was not enough, Mr Oksanen then grabbed Mr Vassallo and repeatedly slammed him against his own vehicle.

Mr Oksanen ran off and was only apprehended following a chase through several streets in Paceville. During the chase, the accused fell a number of times due to his drunkenness and appeared in court with bruises to his face and two black eyes. He made no claim in court that he was beaten up.

Mr Oksanen, who is in Malta on vacation and is living with a friend at an apartment at Pender Gardens, denied seriously injuring Mr Vassallo, damaging the car, attempting to steal it and being drunk in public.

Mr Vassallo appeared in court with a bandaged face and sitting in a wheelchair.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella turned down his request for bail and he was remanded in custody.

Lawyer Bemjamin Valenzia appeared for the accused while lawyers Noella and Michael Sciriha appeared parte civile for Mr Vassallo.