The Gozo court today rejected sexual harassment claims filed by a woman against a stranger who offered her a lift home after concluding that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient.

The accused, Paschalino Cefai, 30, from, Żebbug Gozo, is serving seven years in jail after being convicted over a stabbing incident in a Gozo courtroom in 2012.

He is also facing separate proceedings after being charged with threatening to kill a magistrate and a police inspector.

In May 2010, a woman reported that Mr Cefai had made sexual advances against her after she accepted his offer to take her back home from a bar in Marsalforn.

The alleged victim had testified that the accused had been topping her alcoholic drink all night and at one stage decided to head back home as she was feeling tired. She told the court that a friend told her it was safe to get a lift with the accused.

She claimed that, on their way home, the accused made several sexual advances which she refused, until he decided to drop her in Victoria where she continued her journey home on foot.

On his part, the accused denied such claims saying the woman was inebriated to the point that she had even thrown up in his car.

In its decision the court noted that it was highly dangerous for somebody in such a state to accept lift from a stranger. Nevertheless it pointed out that this should not justify any form of abuse.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud, who presided the case, said the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and so acquitted Paschalino Cefai.

Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone prosecuted.