A Nigerian teenager ended up in court after he tried to stop police officers from intervening in a fight and refused to give his particulars.

The youth, whose name cannot be published because he is 16, pleaded guilty to disobeying and assaulting police officers.

Standing in the dock barefoot, the young man was arrested after trying to stop the police from intervening in a fight, which allegedly involved a friend of his, in the road where he lived in St Paul's Bay.

On Tuesday evening, the police were informed that people were fighting in Ruggero Loria Street but were stopped by the Nigerian teenager when they tried to intervene, police sources said. He refused to give them his details and ran away.

Lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores argued that his client had a clean police record and had immediately apologised to the police when he was arrested on Tuesday. Also, after over six months in a detention centre, his client had found a job and was living in an apartment in St Paul's Bay. "He wants to make a clean sweep," the lawyer said.

But Police Inspector Elton Taliana, for the prosecution, argued that this was a serious crime. He referred to an appeal judgment handed down by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono that stressed the gravity of such a crime.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella remanded the teenager in custody until she hands down judgment today.