Standing in his underwear and brandishing an ornamental musket, a man frightened the life out of Italian language students who had told him to put some clothes on when they saw him on his balcony.

Four female students told the police they saw Marco Hili, 42, of St Paul’s Bay standing on the balcony, adding he was stark naked. They called over their male friends who told him to put some clothes on. All of a sudden, they said he picked up an ornamental musket and pretended to shoot at them.

Mr Hili, who lives right opposite the tourist complex where the students are staying, claimed to have been in his underwear and, in fact, police officers found him in his underwear when they arrived.

Mr Hili admitted to threatening them at about 3.45 a.m. on Wednesday carrying an illegal weapon, being drunk, swearing in public and offending public morals.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri fined him €300 and conditionally discharged him for a year after he took into consideration his clean police record and his apology.

Police Inspector Edmond Cuschieri prosecuted.