Three policemen got more than they bargained for on Wednesday night in St Julians when they intervened in a fight between a couple.

Kerrie Gannon, 29, was having an argument with her 33-year-old boyfriend, Richard Vella, and was pushing him when officers from the mobile squad turned up and enquired what the problem was, sources close to the case said.

Ms Gannon told the officers, PS Jonathan Ransley, PC Johan Xuereb and PC Keith Muscat, not to butt in, swore at them and cursed Malta and the police force.

The police warned her that if she persisted in behaving in such a way they would arrest her... and did just that when she became more aggressive.

Mr Vella was having none of it, however, and told them that if they were going to arrest her then they would have to arrest him too. As he tried to get into the police car and she tried to get out, the officers had to forcefully arrest him.

During their arraignment, Mr Vella and Ms Gannon pleaded guilty to violently resisting arrest, damaging a police car and the officers' portable radios, slightly injuring PC Xuereb and PC Muscat and swearing in public.

The couple paid for the damage they caused, worth €459, and Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani postponed sentencing to Monday.

Police Inspector Nikolai Sant and Malcolm Bondin prosecuted.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for the accused.