Massimo Grixti, 20, of Valletta was jailed for a year today after he admitted to threatening his mother, assaulting and slightly injuring her and harassment.

He was also accused of threatening a police sergeant at the Valletta police station last Monday.

After the court had handed down sentence the presiding magistrate was told that the mother, who was outside the court, had forgiven her son. The magistrate said sentence had been handed down.

Mr Grixti then filed an appeal and is being held under preventive arrest.