Maximilian Ciantar, the driver who ran over twin girls last year at speed, has had his bail revoked for being “unreliable” after he allegedly assaulted a journalist in court last week.

He had originally been granted bail by a magistrate after the incident but a judge yesterday upheld an appeal filed by the Attorney General and remanded him in custody.

Mr Ciantar, 21, of Marsa, was first arraigned last week for breaching a six-month driving ban that he had received for running over the two girls in Attard and seriously injuring them.

During the hearing he allegedly threatened three reporters and just after leaving the courtroom, still handcuffed, he launched a kick against a reporter of The Times although he did not make contact.

The next day he was charged over that incident but was granted bail.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano reversed that decision after Lara Lanfranco, a lawyer from the Attorney General’s office, argued that Mr Ciantar could not be trusted and this was very clear from his criminal record.

Even before he ran over twins last year, Mr Ciantar had already violated other driving bans, Dr Lanfranco said.

She also pointed out that last week’s incident with the journalists took place in the court house, only minutes after Mr Ciantar had been granted bail after being accused, yet again, of violating a driving ban.

Defence lawyer Joe Brincat argued that his client’s case had been sensationalised by the media and that the charges were not serious enough to merit being kept behind bars.

The judge, however, pointed out that Mr Ciantar’s case was “slightly different” from others because of allegations that he had committed a crime just after being granted bail.

He said that, while Mr Ciantar was innocent until proven guilty, “at this stage, the court concludes that he is not reliable”.

Mr Ciantar’s case provoked a public outcry when his original 10-year driving ban was reduced to six months. He left prison last month after serving 16 months of his two-year jail term for good conduct.