A 20-year-old man with anger management problems was remanded in custody today after he refused to be placed under a treatment order as advised by a magistrate and his lawyer.

Josef Scerri from St Paul’s Bay, was taken to court following commotion in another courtroom yesterday when he was appearing before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit in separate proceedings.

The accused became angry as his girlfriend was testifying. He started swearing and stormed out of the courtroom.

The Magistrate ordered his return but Mr Scerri allegedly assaulted police officers, slightly injuring a constable.

Today he was arraigned before Magistrate Marseann Farrugia, charged with assaulting and threatening police officers, slightly injuring one of them, resisting arrest, breaching the peace, disobeying police orders and relapsing. He pleaded not guilty.

Inspector Daryl Borg, prosecuting, objected to the accused’s request for bail, noting that Mr Scerri had several past convictions, had served time behind bars and had anger management problems.

Legal Aid lawyer Christopher Chircop disagreed, adding that the accused would produce witnesses who would swear under oath that the truth was the contrary of what he was being accused of.

Dr Chircop said it was evident that Mr Scerri needed help, not a prison cell.

Magistrate Farrugia suggested that he should be placed under a treatment order. A psychologist, she said, would determine what kind of help Mr Scerri needed and how he could control his temperament. The Magistrate expressed concern that someone so young had six convictions on his criminal record.

Dr Chircop repeatedly told Mr Scerri to “go for it,” telling him he had nothing to worry about.

However, Mr Scerri seemed confused and asked the court if accepting would land him in Mount Carmel Hospital. After hesitation, he said he was refusing to consent to the treatment order.

The Magistrate said that, in view of his refusal and his criminal record, she was refusing the request for bail.