A magistrate said he could understand but not condone the actions of a suspended police inspector whose emotional pull towards his former lover led to a drunken outburst outside the police headquarters in Floriana in 2012.

During the incident, an intoxicated Jeffrey Cilia threatened to kill his ex-partner and threatened four of his superiors, including former police commissioner John Rizzo, whom he called “a cabbage from Cospicua”.

Mr Cilia, 42, was found guilty of 13 of 19 charges and sentenced to two months in jail, suspended for three years.

He had had a romantic relationship with Louise Calleja, a police inspector, but this went sour and he could not seem to accept it. On March 29, 2012, Ms Calleja received a series of messages from Mr Cilia asking her to meet him. She refused and Mr Cilia told her he would wait for her outside HQ.

As he was waiting, Mr Cilia spat on the police commissioner’s car before hurling insults at Mr Rizzo.

Justice must be done but this has to be accompanied by mercy

Mr Cilia also told him that he would be Mr Rizzo’s biggest enemy, as well as of his wife, his children and his children’s children. The court noted there was “bad blood” between Mr Cilia and Mr Rizzo, particularly over a separate incident in which he was allegedly involved in a fight with revellers in Paceville.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia said the incident happened due to an emotional matter that became worse when Mr Cilia tried to suppress it with alcohol.

Mr Cilia was found guilty of threatening police officers and his former partner, dangerous driving and driving at excessive speed and under the influence of alcohol. He was also found guilty of breaching the bail conditions imposed with regard to the Paceville incident.

In his considerations, the magistrate said Mr Cilia was a first-time offender and had admitted his mistakes.

“Although the court sympathises with Mr Cilia on this emotional problem with his former partner, it cannot but highlight the harassment and undignified behaviour towards his superiors,” the magistrate said.

“The court believes that justice must be done but this has to be accompanied by mercy. The court also cannot ignore the fact that Mr Cilia has two young children. This humane perspective cannot be ignored,” the magistrate added.

Besides the suspended sentence he fined him €2,000. He also disqualified him from driving for six months. The magistrate issued a three-year restraining order in favour of Ms Calleja and Mr Rizzo and their families.

Police Inspectors Carlos Cordina and Darren Buhagiar prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Mr Cilia. Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appeared parte civile.