Two men who bit each other following an argument on Monday were today given a conditional discharge.

Ivorian Frank Kwaku Ayivi, 31, who works as a mason, and Ghanaian Charles Kesse, 41, who works as a carpenter, were charged with causing each other grievous bodily harm by biting and throwing or threatening to throw a pointed knife at each other.

The two, who both have Italian identity cards, live in a rented flat in Zabbar. It appears that the argument erupted after Mr Ayivi damaged property in the flat and refused to fork out the money to the landlord to replace them.

Mr Ayivi said he was stabbed in the foot and was bitten on the chin and cheek while Mr Kesse said he suffered an injury in his back and was bitten on his lip and finger.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona highlighted the fact that the maximum penalty for grievous bodily harm was a nine-year sentence. He asked whether they had settled their differences, quipping that if not, he would put them in the same cell until they thrashed them out.

The two men were given a conditional discharge for three years and a three-year protection order.

The magistrate warned that if the incident repeated itself, they would be given an effective prison sentence.

Inspector Charlotte Curmi prosecuted and Noel Bartolo appeared as defence counsel.