A sailor who assaulted a police officer while intoxicated was handed a suspended sentence today.

Eleftherios Sklavos, 35, was reported to the police yesterday evening for making a nuisance of himself in a Valletta restaurant. The accused, a Greek sailor, was in Malta temporarily while the yacht he worked on underwent maintenance work.

He admitted to the charges of assaulting public officers, slightly injuring a police sergeant, disobeying police orders, breaching public peace and being drunk in public.

Mr Sklavos was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years and fined €4,000, which needs to be paid before Friday if he is to leave the island aboard the yacht.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia warned him that assaulting the police for carrying out their duties was unacceptable behaviour and, while pointing out that the fine was the least amount he could hand out by law, advised him not to drink too much.

The accused bowed his head and apologised for his unruly behaviour.

Police inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted. Lawyer Abigail Bugeja defended the accused.