A man who scratched a car because someone had damaged his yesterday admitted to causing more than €1,000 in damage on Monday and yesterday.

Gilbert Agius of Cospicua, who works in a confectionery, used a key to scratch the bonnet of a car owned by a family friend.

A member of Mr Agius’s family told Magistrate Antonio Mizzi he could not understand why he had done this when the victim was a family friend and everything seemed to be fine before the incident.

The family member said that before attending court he had spoken to the victim, Anthony Bonello, who said he just wanted to be paid for the damage and did not want the police to proceed against Mr Agius.

Tapping on his right temple, the magistrate asked Mr Agius whether he had anything up there and Mr Agius shrugged his shoulders and said: “Ħeqq, if they scratched mine?”

Visibly irate, the magistrate retorted saying that even his car had been scratched but he did not damage the deputy registrar’s car in retaliation.

In submissions on punishment, Police Inspector Frankie Sammut said the estimate for the damage in Monday’s incident amounted to about €700 but yesterday’s estimate still had to be issued.

Magistrate Mizzi granted Mr Agius bail against a personal guarantee of €500 until Monday when the second estimate would be ready and payment could be made.

The court is expected to hand down judgement on the same day.