A man went from the “frying pan” – a term he jokingly used to address a traffic policeman – into the “fire” when a court conditionally discharged him for a year and fined him €850.

Patrick Sciberras, 37, from St Paul’s Bay, appeared before Magistrate Charmaine Galea and was charged with insulting the police officer, offending public morals, giving false particulars to the police, breaching the peace and relapsing.

Police Inspector Godwin Scerri, prosecuting, told the court Mr Sciberras said: “hawn ja frying pan” (hi, you frying pan), as the policeman drove past him on his motorcycle in Parades Street, St Paul’s Bay last March 15. Mr Sciberras denied using that term though he admitted having consumed “a couple of drinks”.

Two friends who were with him told the court Mr Sciberras was not intoxicated.

He said he remembered the traffic policeman radioing for assistance and there was “a commotion” when officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit arrived.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono said the case was over an “exaggerated reaction to a perceived insult” and the issue had been “blown out of proportion”.

In court, Mr Sciberras apologised and retracted anything which could have been perceived as an insult.

The court, however, found him guilty of the charges brought against him.