A nightmare holiday came to an end yesterday for a British family who became the victims of a road rage attack but were then charged with injuring their alleged aggressor.

Terence Cooper, 59, and his daughter Michelle, 22, were acquitted of taking part in the fight, while Gary Cooper, 29, who was beaten on the head, was found guilty and conditionally discharged for a month.

They stood accused of slightly injuring 21-year-old Noel Falzon, a security guard from Birkirkara, who has been charged, along with his friend, of trying to kill Gary Cooper.

The incident goes back to September 14, when the family was driving back to their apartment in Xemxija after dinner when another car, driven by Mr Falzon, almost crashed into them.

Terrence Cooper gave Mr Falzon the middle finger and drove away but Mr Falzon and his friend, Anthony Muscat, 19, of St Paul’s Bay, gave chase in an aggressive way, the court heard.

They came to a stop and the two men threw a bottle of water through the driver’s window, Inspector Therese Sciberras had testified. Mr Falzon then got out of his car and approached them and Gary Cooper did the same. An argument ensued.

Ms Cooper also got out of the car and tried to pull her brother away, at which point she was hit in the eye, the inspector said. The two men then ganged up on Gary Cooper and he received 13 blows to the head, which resulted in 40 sutures.

The two men were charged with attempted murder but the next day the family too was charged with slightly injuring Mr Falzon.

Taking the witness stand, court-appointed doctor Mario Scerri said Mr Falzon had a slight injury to his nose, which he expected would heal completely although it might leave a slight scar, which makes the injury a serious one in legal terms.

Otherwise, the injuries were slight, the doctor said.

Following the inspector’s testimony, Mr Falzon was called to testify but after being warned that he might incriminate himself decided not to give evidence.

At this point, defence lawyer Vince Micallef and the inspector spoke to Magistrate Anthony Vella at the Bench and discussed the case. On returning the magistrate handed down judgment.