A man, who early on Friday morning threatened his ex-partner over the phone and later smashed the front door of her father’s residence, was granted bail after admitting to his wrongdoing and pending the drawing up of a pre-sentencing report.

The 32-year old from Mqabba, was marched to court barely hours after being arrested by police who were reportedly asked to intervene by the woman’s relatives.

Sources explained how the former couple had argued at around 8am over the phone allegedly about material issues currently pending between the two.

As the verbal row heated up, the man allegedly threatened to go to the woman’s place and ‘beat her up,’ which threat prompted family members of the accused’s former partner to call in the police.

Arriving at the family’s Gzira home, police officers found that the accused had already got there and had tried to break down the front door. The man was arrested on site and a few hours later was escorted to court.

The man pleaded guilty to having threatened his ex-partner and a female relative of the woman, caused voluntary damage to third party property as well as with having breached public order and peace. He was further charged with relapsing.

The court, presided over by magistrate Audrey Demicoli, requested the preparation of a pre-sentencing report and upheld the request for bail which was not objected to by the prosecution.

Ordering the man not to approach the prosecution’s witnesses and to sign the bail book twice a week, the court granted bail against a deposit of €800 and a personal guarantee of €3,000.

The accused, currently residing at his parents’ home in Mqabba, was also barred from laying foot in Msida and Gzira, the place of residence of his ex-partner and family in whose favour the court issued a Protection Order.

Inspector Jonathan Ransley prosecuted.

Lawyers Lennox Vella and Arthur Azzopardi were defence counsel.

Lawyer David Farrugia Sacco appeared parte civile.