A man’s night out dancing at a Paceville club proved a costly decision, landing him back behind bars with a hefty €24,000 bill to pay into the State coffers.

The 39-year old Portuguese national, whose name had been banned by another court presiding over the compilation of evidence over claims of harassment and rape by his former partner, had been arraigned afresh in March for breaching the conditions of bail pending ongoing criminal proceedings.

The man’s fresh arraignment had followed a series of circumstances culminating in allegedly incriminating footage wherein he could be seen dancing at a Paceville club close to midnight on March 10 and “having a good time”.

When delivering judgment over the alleged breach of bail, the court, presided over by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, observed that the accused had admitted in open court that he had “breached the bail condition regarding the hours within which he was ordered to retire in his residence”.

The bail decree, as varied by the Criminal Court in February, had imposed that the accused “was to return home at 9pm every day, including Sundays and public holidays”.

Footage taken from the club left no doubt as to the identity of the man frequenting the establishment “after 10pm,” the court said, declaring the accused guilty, condemning him to a six-month effective jail term and ordering his immediate re-arrest.

Moreover, following upon this conviction, forfeiture of the bail bond was mandatory in terms of law, the court went on, ordering the forfeiture of €24,000 representing a €10,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €14,000 in favour of the State coffers.