A man who got drunk and wrenched a prison cell door off its hinges when he was arrested was placed under probation and ordered to do 100 hours of community service.
Tonio Grixti, 22, of Valletta, pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including slightly injuring a man, threatening police officers, damaging public property and breaching the peace in a fight in Paceville last February.
A court expert testified that the injuries on the victim’s left hand were very small and superficial and did not require any particular medical intervention.
Mr Grixti apologised to the victim and to the police officers in court and promised not to make such a mistake again.
Magistrate Aaron Bugeja pointed out that, even though the injuries were minor, the consequences could have been serious.
He said he was puzzled that both the prosecution and the defence agreed that the case was serious but also that Mr Grixti should not be jailed.
Mr Grixti was a relapser with two crimes under his belt: offending public morals and uttering obscene words and making offensive gestures.
He had also been found guilty of damaging property and being drunk in public and had been placed under a six-month probation order.
“It seems that he learnt nothing,” the magistrate said.
It was even worse that a drunken Mr Grixti threatened police officers on duty, refusing to give his particulars.
He was so aggressive that he pulled the cell door off its hinges.
“Such despicable behaviour can never be condoned by the court,” the magistrate said.
Mr Grixti should not have taken his anger out on the police or the door, even if he felt he was wrongly arrested, he added.
While disagreeing with the view that Mr Grixti should not be jailed, Magistrate Bugeja felt that it would not benefit society to incarcerate him as he had to show society the respect it deserved.
The court therefore placed the accused under a probation order for three years and ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service.
He was also fined €165 and ordered not to approach the victim for three years.
Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.