A homeless alcoholic asked a policeman to phone for a taxi to take him to Paceville because he wanted to beat someone up – and then assaulted the officer when he refused, a magistrate heard yesterday.

The man, Antoine Gauci, 36, had attended three rehabilitation programmes but was kicked out because of the problems he caused, Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard.

Police Inspector Roderick Gauci said Mr Gauci had turned up at Qormi police station at midnight on Saturday and asked an officer to get him a taxi to Paceville.

When the officer refused, he assaulted him and was arres-ted but was released after he apologised.

Mr Gauci later turned up at his ex-wife’s apartment at around 3am and broke a glass pane in the front door, Police Inspector Roderick Agius told the court.

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech told Magistrate Hayman his client was admitting to the charges.

This was a social case and he needed help rather than an effective jail term, he said.

The magistrate suggested that a pre-sentencing report be drawn up.

When giving his particulars to the court, Mr Gauci said he was homeless because his mother wanted nothing to do with him.

He admitted to assaulting the officer, damaging the door, being drunk in public to the extent that he could not take care of himself, breaching the peace, relapsing and committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term.

He was remanded in custody.