A judge yesterday ordered a man to do a first aid course to learn how to help others rather than harm them, as he converted a two-year prison sentence into community service.

Jonathan Farrugia, 23, had been jailed after he was found guilty of seriously injuring a man in a Paceville fight on June 20, 2004. He was handed down a two-year jail term and fined €60 in October 2010.

In filing an appeal, defence lawyer Giannella de Marco argued that the injuries suffered by the victim were not that serious even though they were permanent.

She also held that the Magistrate’s court had carried out a somewhat superficial appreciation of the evidence by believing everything the victim said.

Mr Justice David Scicluna said the injuries were not, in fact, serious in nature. After evaluating the proceedings he ruled that instead of a jail term it would be better for the accused to pay for his mistake by giving something back to the community and compensating the victim.

He ordered that the jail term be converted into three years of probation and 100 hours of unpaid community service, and that Mr Farrugia pay the victim €1,200.

Furthermore, Mr Farrugia was ordered to do a course in First Aid with St John’s Ambulance Brigade.