A man who served time in jail after he tied his girlfriend to a chair and locked her in the bedroom out of fear she would go off with another man was yesterday charged with trying to set fire to the front door of her residence.

Renald Hayman, 33, from Senglea, was caught with a lighter in hand trying to burn down the door of the Fgura property.

Besides attempted arson, Mr Hayman was also accused of trying to damage private property, harassing his girlfriend, threatening her with violence and breaching a probation order.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit granted bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000. No effective deposit was requested.

She ordered him not to go to Fgura and to sign daily at the police station.

He also has to be home by midnight. Dr Lucio Schriha appeared for the accused. Inspector Hubert Cini prosecuted.

Last September, Mr Hayman was jailed for a year after he tied his girlfriend – the same woman – to a chair and locked her inside her room because of his fixation that she would go off with another man.

Mr Hayman had been ordered to undergo a rehabilitation programme to deal with his alcohol problem and a protection order had been issued for the women.

However, sources said the couple had reconciled after his time in jail. Saturday’s incident took place following an argument.