The angry father of a 20-year-old woman damaged her 50-year-old boyfriend's car with a rock because he was displeased at her choice of partner.

Leandro Ambrogio, 45, an Italian national, caused more than €1,164 of damage to Victor Falzon's Mazda 626, battering the car in a rage because Mr Falzon is 30 years older than his daughter.

Mr Ambrogio admitted to the charge but sentencing was postponed to another day. Magistrate Giovanni Grixti granted bail to Mr Ambrogio against a personal guarantee of €2,000. In their request for bail, defence lawyers José Herrera and Noel Bianco told the court that this was a minor incident and their client wanted to contest the amount claimed in damages.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri produced an estimate drawn up by a car repair garage which showed that the damage amounted to €1,164.

The inspector added that he was worried that if the accused was granted bail he would reoffend.

He said Mr Ambrogio had told him that if he did not go back to Italy the police would have to arrest him another two hundred times because he would do something to the victim.