"He came home drunk, pushed me on the bed and tried to wind a telephone wire around my neck," a woman said in court yesterday.

Recounting the incident that occurred last September, she said that, together with her youngest son, she managed to run away from her husband and head for the Fgura police station. He chased her down the street and dragged her back in the house. Once inside, he took her mobile phone and keys but she escaped from his clutches again and jumped out of a window. Her youngest son jumped after her and they both ran to the police station.

Her son had run ahead and went straight to the Fgura police station where he filed a report. Officers then accompanied him back home.

Her husband had caught up with her again and started dragging her back home but a neighbour, a policeman, noticed what was happening and accompanied the husband to the police station.

The woman said she forgave her husband several times for his aggressive behaviour but he never changed.

The 31-year-old man from Fgura was found guilty of holding the woman against her will and slightly injuring her.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi placed the man under probation for three years and ordered him not to approach his wife for one year, warning him he would be fined €233 if he did.

Names are not being mentioned in order to protect the identity of the woman and her son.

Police Inspector Alexander Grech prosecuted.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.