The start of the week spelt more trouble for the driver, whose disregard for traffic regulations and court orders had made the media rounds, as he was handed a 16-month effective jail term for his latest brush with the law.

Marius Camilleri, the 57-year driver, whose dangerous maneuvers at the wheel of his truck had hit the headlines few months ago, had been arraigned on Maundy Thursday after being spotted by traffic policemen riding a motorbike through Qormi, evidently in breach of his bail conditions.

Read: 'Most dangerous' driver gets into trouble again... this time on two wheels

Two officers had sighted the accused riding a black Agility 125 with suspicious-looking number plates in St Bartholomew Street, when one of his bail conditions had imposed an outright ban on driving.

During his arraignment, the tearful driver admitted to having driven the motorbike, which bore a number plate belonging to another vehicle registered to someone who resided abroad.

He further admitted to having been driving without a licence and without a valid insurance cover, besides committing the alleged offences during the operative period of two suspended sentences - as well as with relapsing.

The accused’s defence lawyer had argued that his client had panicked after suffering a slight accident at home which made it difficult for him to walk all the way to the police station where he was due to sign the bail book.

Rather than miss his appointment, the accused had made it to the station on a small motorbike and was allegedly on his way back home when spotted by the traffic police.

In its judgment on Monday, the court, presided over by magistrate Gabriella Vella, upon the accused’s own admission declared him guilty and handed down a 16-month effective jail term, pointing out that if his leg injuries - as indeed medically certified - had prevented him from going to the police station on foot, he ought not to have taken the motorbike.

The court further ordered the confiscation of the accused’s €20,000 bail deposit and guarantee and extended the operative period of other suspended sentences handed down earlier by the courts.

Inspector Sergio Pisani prosecuted.