The son of a notorious criminal has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to kicking a policewoman when she tried to break up a fight in Paceville.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, allegedly kicked Police Sergeant Mariucca Scicluna in the leg after she tried to pull him out of the fight on Saturday at about 1 a.m.

The teenager also pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring her, threatening police officers, disobeying orders, breaching the peace and breaking the conditions of a previous release.

Lawyer Joe Brincat said his client often "ended up at the wrong end of the stick" because others poked fun and hurled insults at him because of who his father was. He claimed that in the incident in question, about 20 young men turned on him and, with no friends around to help him out, a fight broke out.

Police Inspector Nikolai Sant said the police were there to help him and the attack was completely unwarranted. He said the accused had a habit of walking past police officers, gesturing and making offensive signs in their regard and they turned a blind eye.

Dr Brincat rebutted saying that, because of his fathers' situation and certain comments and articles in the media, his client's mother had lost a lot of work and was finding it hard to bring him up properly.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman, after considering the arguments in her chambers, remanded the teenager in custody.