A Ħal Far open centre resident seriously injured a barmaid who chased him all the way from King’s Own Band Club in Valletta to City Gate to retrieve the mobile phone he had stolen from her, a court heard this morning.

Shiling Fadi, 32 from Libya, was arraigned before Magistrate Charmaine Galea where he admitted all charges.

The incident happened last night at about 1.30am as the bar was closing.

Police sources said that the accused got hold of the barmaid’s mobile phone and ran up Republic Street until he was confronted by the woman and her colleagues near the Tritons Fountain.

The man admitted to punching the women in her face, causing her minor fractures, threatening her with a knife and disobeying police orders.

The man was given a 14-month jail term suspended for four years and fined €116 which is payable over six months.

Police inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted while lawyer Noel Bartolo was legal aid.

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