A 26-year-old man from Lija has been placed on probation for three years after admitting to threatening a police officer and his former girlfriend with a screwdriver after she told him she wanted to break up.

The incident happened on New Year’s Eve and dragged on to the early hours of the New Year, also involving a high-speed chase.

Jonathan Micallef Griffin argued with the woman when she told him she wanted to end the relationship.

He got drunk and rammed her Toyota Corsa with his red Seat Cordoba in Triq Dun Ġużepp Vella, Qormi.

He then got out of his car and threatened the woman with a screwdriver before using it to smash one of the car’s windows.

He later threatened a police constable who arrived on the scene.

The woman said in court that she was willing to forgive him as long as what happened would not take place again and provided she and her two children were safe.

The defendant replied that he had learnt his lesson “during the time he spent in custody”.

The court heard that Mr Micallef Griffin left the scene in his car with the police chasing him at high speed. He was eventually arrested in Lija and charged with damaging property, using a weapon to threaten a woman and a police officer, driving in a dangerous manner and breaching the peace. He was further charged with relapsing.

The magistrate warned Mr Micallef Griffin, who works as a loader and driver at the airport, not to approach his ex-girlfriend or the police officer involved in the incident.

He was placed on probation for three years and suspended from driving for a month.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted. Lawyer Albert Zerafa appeared for the accused.