The inmate who last week hurled insults at a magistrate was back in court yesterday, this time charged with threatening a number of prison warders and assaulting one of them.

The incident took place at the Corradino Correctional Facility at around 9am on Friday.

Sylvester James, who proudly calls himself by his nickname Il-Bomba, pleaded insanity when he appeared before Magistrate Anthony Vella and was transferred to the Forensic Unit at Mount Carmel Hospital.

The 29-year-old, originally from Marsa, was charged with assaulting correctional officer Alexander Desira, slightly injuring him. He was also charged with threatening and offending no less than 11 correctional officers who intervened when things got out of hand in prison, disobeying their orders and trying to prevent them from carrying out their duties.

He was further charged with accusing the correctional officers of a crime he knew was false and filing a false report with the police.

His lawyer, Noel Bianco, said Mr James, while denying the charges, was pleading insanity and requested the appointment of psychiatrists to report on his state of mind.

Magistrate Anthony Vella ordered that Mr James be kept at the Forensic Unit at Mount Carmel Psychiatric Hospital. Police Inspector Hubert Cini prosecuted.

Mr James made headlines on Monday when he told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja and a police inspector: “Who the **** do you think you are?” while testifying in a case against another prisoner, Jason Decelis, who is also facing criminal proceedings for assaulting a prison warder and for accusing him of a crime he knew did not take place.

Mr Decelis had made a false claim against the correctional officer, alleging he had ordered him to urinate on his cell floor instead of using the toilet.

When Mr James began hurling insults at the magistrate, he was fined for contempt of court and told the magistrate: “You can fine me all you want because I am not going to pay a cent of it. Whatever the amount, I will spend it in jail.”

As he was being escorted out of the courtroom, Mr James sneeringly told the magistrate: “Do you accept payment by cheque or do you prefer cash?”