A magistrate presiding over the Gozo court today jailed a man for three months and fined him €800, warning him that assaults on the police was "inexcusable".

Martin Carbonaro, 46, also had a nine-month suspended jail term turned into an effective one after he committed another crime during the operative term of this suspended sentence.

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud found Mr Carbonaro guilty of assaulting eight police officers, injuring another two men, disobeying police orders, breaching the peace, being drunk and disorderly in public, offending the police and relapsing.

In his judgment, the magistrate said respect must be shown to police officers always and everywhere, and that their orders should be obeyed.

Investigations showed that Mr Carbonaro had drunk no less than 18 beers.

“The court cannot turn a blind eye on such cases, as if police officers were there to be challenged and have their orders disobeyed. Being under the influence of alcohol does not excuse such behaviour. These cases are on the increase and it is the court’s responsibility to protect officials, given that these are acting within their powers,” the magistrate said.

“The court does not want police to be demoralised by such cases simply because they are not receiving the adequate support,” he continued.

The magistrate, on the other hand, noted the early guilty plea and the fact that Mr Carbonaro accepted to receive help for his alcohol addiction.