A 41-year-old Sicilian man who already served 30 months in jail for harassing his former lover was today remanded in custody after being charged with persisting with the behaviour even after leaving prison.
Massimo Tivisini has been in and out of court since 2008 when the relationship between him and Eleonora Camilleri hit the rocks. He was given various opportunities to reform but his behaviour persisted until in 2010 he was jailed for four years.
Magistrate Charmaine Galea heard how the harassment and stalking began again in August after he was released from jail. He began by sending the woman love letters but started following her when the letters remained unanswered.
Police Inspector Roderick Agius explained how the woman would constantly find him wherever she went and how he would spend hours outside her home, sometimes throwing stones at the windows.
Since Ms Camilleri is a nurse, Mr Tivisini would spend hours at Mater Dei Hospital following her footsteps.
He appeared in court in a wheelchair after he complained that his leg was hurting and he could not walk.
He was charged with a total of 15 counts of harassment between August 26 and last Monday when he again went to her Qormi home where she lives with her parents.
He was also charged with threatening Ms Camilleri's father, causing the entire Camilleri family fear that violence would be used against them and to damaging their property.
One of the charges related to the breach of a protection order issued by the courts in favour of the woman and her family.
Defence lawyer Noel Cutajar said his client was admitting to the charges but called on the court to order an effective treatment for the psychiatric problems the man had. It was evident that the previous treatment he received, even while in jail, was not effective, he said.
Magistrate Galea put off the case to Tuesday for judgment.
Dr Cutajar requested bail but Inspector Agius strongly objected, saying that Ms Camilleri, who was present in court, "was living in a jail within her own home".
The court turned down the request.