An irregular immigrant who accidentally knocked a mobile phone out of a bouncer’s hand while drunk was yesterday given a suspended jail term.

Sources said 20-year-old Guinean Sekou Balde, who lives in Buġibba but could not give an address, was talking to Terence Cross, when the incident occurred in Paceville at about 11pm on Sunday. The phone hit the ground and was damaged.

Mr Balde appeared in court aided by an interpreter who translated proceedings into Italian.

He first told the court that he did not have any personal documents but later said he did but lost them. What remained were documents related to his application for refugee status, legal aid Yana Micallef Stafrace said.

Mr Balde said he could not afford to pay for the phone then asked for a few days to come up with the money.

He admitted to involuntarily damaging the phone and being drunk in public.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja sentenced him to three months in jail suspended for one year and warned him that the jail term could come into force if he committed another crime within a year.