An ambulance driver who lost his temper with his supervisor and slightly injured him had been bullied by him and was even receiving treatment for depression as a result, a court heard.

Mario Camilleri, 46, of Sta Venera, was yesterday placed under probation for two years after being found guilty of assaulting his supervisor and damaging an aluminium door.

On November 22, 2008, he was instructed by his supervisor, John Psaila, to lift a 230-kilogramme patient. Mr Psaila did so despite having been told by Mr Camilleri, whose job was to drive elderly people to hospital, had a knee injury and could not carry out the task.

An argument ensued and Mr Camilleri got hold of a wooden plank, smashed an aluminium door with it and hurled a kettle and toaster at Mr Psaila, causing him minor injuries.

Mr Camilleri testified that, although he treated him with respect because he was his senior, Mr Psaila would bully him. He described him as a “savage” and said he would make him do things such as drive trucks for which he had no licence.

He recalled another incident when Mr Psaila changed the daily routes of all drivers only to change them back again and leave him out of the new arrangement.

Due to his boss’s behaviour, he had to seek help for depression. Because of the court case, Mr Camilleri added, he had been on half pay for two years, receiving just €355 a month.

He presented a certificate showing that at the time of the incident he needed a knee replacement and could not carry out the work delegated to him by Mr Psaila.

Senior foreman Michael Borg, who was representing the human resources department of the ambulance service, gave details of Mr Psaila’s previous record. He said Mr Psaila had not been present during office inspections on nine occasions.

In 1993, he was found guilty of bad behaviour with colleagues and, in 1996, had been interrogated by the police Criminal Investigation Department and found guilty of stealing a Dictaphone. In November 1997, he was found guilty of using foul language with a nursing officer.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that, notwithstanding all this, he had been promoted to supervisor on December 6, 2007. She also noted there were no prior reports against Mr Camilleri.

After considering the evidence, she concluded Mr Psaila had issues with most workers. Employees had testified he was insensitive and did not treat everyone equally. Furthermore, he had issues with the law and had wanted Mr Camilleri to put his health at risk by asking him to lift the patient.

The magistrate Scerri Herrera ruled Mr Camilleri had been provoked and, as a result. Mr Camilleri made good for the damage he caused in the office and had spent more than two years suspended on half pay, surviving on €355 a month. This was punishment in itself, she said.

Mr Camilleri had health problems and was receiving treatment for depression and anxiety because of Mr Psaila’s behaviour.

After considering the circumstances of the case, the magistrate found Mr Camilleri guilty of assaulting a public official and deliberately causing damage to the office.