A Syrian man has been remanded in custody after admitting to sexually assaulting a Maltese woman as she was walking home in Swieqi early on New Year’s Day.

Najm Fahd, 20, from Marsa, pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman and trying to touch her private parts.

The incident happened in Triq L-Ispiera at around 4am as the woman was returning home from a New Year’s Eve party. The man grabbed her by the mouth and tried to place his hands up her skirt. He only stopped when neighbours were alerted to what was going on because of the woman’s screams.

Police arrived on site within minutes but he had already escaped, only to be apprehended further down the down.

While at the St Julian’s police station, Mr Najd managed to break free of his handcuffs and damaged them. The handcuffs are worth just under €23.

Mr Najd, who said he was very sorry for what he had done, told the court that he had spent the night drinking with his two friends and had shared a bottle of vodka. He said he could not remember details of what had taken place.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, who ordered a ban on the publication of the woman’s name as well as to her account of what had taken place, deferred the case to Thursday for judgment.

Police inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Matthew Spagnol prosecuted. Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the man as legal aid.