A father and son were yesterday given suspended jail terms for punching a policeman in a fight aboard a Gozo Channel ferry boat in July 2009.

The incident took place as police officers were heading home in Malta after celebrating Police Day and horse racing enthusiasts were also on their way home following the traditional horse race celebrating the feast of St George.

Anthony Vassallo, 63, and his son Clint, 25, both from Rabat, drove onto the MV Malita at about 11 p.m. Their car ended up parked next to a steel pillar, preventing Mr Vassallo’s wife from getting out, the court heard.

So he asked Woman Police Constable Lorna Pulis, who was parked in front of him, to move her vehicle a little further up but, due to the tight space, she was not able to.

Mr Vassallo then inched his car forward and let it rest up against hers, at which point an argument broke out between them. Police Sergeant Mario Mercieca, who had also just parked his car, heard the commotion and walked over to try and calm the situation down.

At this point, Mr Vassallo turned to PS Mercieca and dragged him into the argument that ended with Mr Vassallo and his son punching the officer repeatedly, the court heard.

Another officer, Woman Police Constable Margherita Aquilina, got involved when she too tried to restore calm.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke found the father and son guilty of causing serious injury to PS Mercieca, slightly injuring WPC Aquilina and attacking police officers.

She handed down a six-month jail term suspended for two years.