A man who punched his colleague twice in the face and threw her mobile phone to the ground, smashing it, has been conditionally discharged for 18 months.

Christian Grixti, 36, of Cospicua, was found guilty of damaging a mobile phone, slightly injuring Juanita Muscat, threatening her and breaching the peace in July 2010.

The incident took place at Kastell wine bar in Tarxien at about 7 p.m. when Mr Grixti and Ms Muscat were preparing for work.

Ms Muscat said she was stocking the bar together with another woman, Graziella Bonnici, when Mr Grixti asked her to get something from the garden in a raised voice. To avoid trouble, Ms Bonnici went to the garden and Mr Grixti blocked the passageway for Ms Muscat. When she moved towards him, he accused her of not doing her job well and hurled insults at her brother.

Ms Muscat told Magistrate Audrey Demicoli that she immediately called their employer to inform him that she could not work in such conditions any more.

Her boss asked to speak to Mr Grixti, who smashed the phone on the ground after hanging up. He then punched her twice in the face and continued insulting her brother.

He was conditionally discharged for 18 months and was ordered to pay Ms Muscat for the phone. Police Inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted.