After 30 reports of domestic violence in less than two years, a man has ended up with a suspended prison sentence after a violent row left his estranged wife with slight injuries.

The woman filed some 20 reports last year and another 10 earlier this year. In fact, the couple are also locked in other criminal cases currently pending before the Magistrates’ Courts.

Mark Mansueto, a 40-year old butcher from Floriana, landed in the dock on Tuesday following the umpteenth argument with his estranged wife, which broke out early on Monday morning.

Officers from the Valletta Police Station, alerted to the domestic violence, came across the wife in a visibly shaken state and suffering slight injuries.

Her husband was subsequently summoned to the police station for questioning and was placed under arrest before his arraignment on Tuesday.

Mr Mansueto was charged with having threatened her and causing slight injuries and causing her to fear violence. He was further charged with breaching the public good order.

After hearing the man plead guilty, prosecuting officer Daryl Borg pointed out that the man had fully cooperated with the police, even turning up at the police station when summoned.

Defence lawyer Jason Grima pointed out that the whole incident had been sparked by the woman’s provocative attitude, adding that the couple’s separation proceedings seemed to be nearing an end.

In the light of all the circumstances, duty magistrate Doreen Clarke declared the man guilty and condemned him to a 4-month prison term suspended for 18 months.

The court further placed the accused under a three-year Restraining Order, warning him not to approach his wife in any manner and to steer clear of her whereabouts.