Carmelo Tanti, 57 of Paola was this morning sentenced to a 13-day jail term for threatening a police inspector and a police sergeant, swearing in public and slightly injuring his wife.

The man walked free, having already served 13 days in remand.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi noted that Mr Tanti had been previously jailed for seven days for committing similar offences after getting drunk.

He warned Mr Tanti that if he committed another crime, he would be jailed for 130 days.

Magistrate Mizzi said, however, that the prison was not a solution and people had to understand that the courts were not there to put people in prison.