A man who stabbed a driver in a fit of rage while driving under the influence of alcohol was yesterday jailed for two years and banned from driving for five.

Frankie Falzon, 36, from Żebbuġ, had originally been charged with attempting to murder Philip Micallef but the prosecution later changed the charge to grievous injury.

The incident took place at 8.45pm on April 17, 2011, when Mr Falzon was driving through Main Street, Żebbuġ, with his wife and three children. Mr Micallef was coming in the opposite direction.

They met where the road narrowed but both refused to reverse. After a few minutes of deadlock, Mr Falzon was persuaded to back up by his daughter.

Mr Micallef testified that as the other car came alongside his, Mr Falzon started hitting his car with his hands. Mr Micallef got out to check for damage and note Mr Falzon’s registration number.

According to Mr Micallef, Mr Falzon got out of his own car, moved next to him and touched him. He did not feel anything and it was only when he went back to his car that he realised he was bleeding, after his wife pointed it out.

Mr Falzon claimed it was Mr Micallef who hit his car, near where his children were seated. He claimed he feared for his life and the well-being of his family so he grabbed a knife that he kept in the car and used it to defend himself.

The court heard that Mr Falzon took a breathalyser test and was found to have a higher alcohol level than permitted.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke said a number of factors raised doubts about Mr Falzon’s credibility.

The incident could also have had far more serious consequences – the victim suffered a minor lesion to his large intestine, she said.

She pointed out that Mr Falzon had not accepted help for his alcohol problem.

The accused was found guilty of possessing of a penknife during the commission of a crime, breaching the peace and driving under the influence of alcohol.

He was jailed for two years over the incident and a further five months for breaching a conditional discharge. Apart from fining him €116, the court also ordered him to pay almost €3,000 in court expenses and banned him from driving for five years.

Police Inspectors Joseph Agius and Kylie Borg prosecuted.