A crane driver was yesterday charged with trying to smash his way into his matrimonial home using a crane, after finding he had been locked out and an eviction order issued against him.

Joseph Axisa, 48, of Mosta, got home at about 5 p.m. on Monday to find that his estranged wife had managed to secure an eviction order from the family court.

Police sources said the lock on the front door had been changed.

He allegedly flew into a rage, jumped into his mobile crane and began to ram the windows and main door of the modest house in Feniċi Street, Mosta, causing substantial damage to the property.

Mr Axisa also called his brother Paul, a 50-year-old builder from Qormi, to the scene.

Joseph Axisa’s estranged wife Maria and their 18-year-old daughter Jeanelle were inside the house at the time. Jeanelle was allegedly slightly injured by her uncle Paul in an altercation.

The sources said the police had to use pepper spray twice to force the accused out of the crane after breaking the window of the operator’s cabin.

During the arraignment, Mr Axisa pleaded not guilty to causing severe damage to the house, attempting to seriously injure two police officers, violently resisting and assaulting four officers, driving dangerously and breaching the peace.

His brother Paul, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty to attempting to seriously injure his niece and slightly injuring her, violently resisting four police officers, assaulting four policemen, threatening his sister-in-law and her children, as well as driving dangerously.

Joseph Axisa did not ask for bail and was remanded in custody.

His lawyer Emy Bezzina contested his arrest arguing that his estranged wife had lived in the house since August and the court order had come as a complete surprise.

He also asked for a psychiatrist to examine his client because he did not remember anything of the incident.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia ruled the arrest legal and agreed to the appointment of a psychiatrist.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono, appearing for Paul Axisa, requested bail for his client and the prosecution did not object.