A 19-year old father of two was granted bail after pleading not guilty to an episode of domestic violence after allegedly striking his partner with a bathroom plunger.

The Cospicua resident, father of two infants aged 18 months and four months, borne by his partner who is six years his senior, was arrested when the woman summoned up courage to call the police last Saturday evening after the umpteenth episode of violence.

Too scared to go directly to the police station, the woman rang for help and was eventually escorted by police out of her home to file a complaint, thereby setting into motion criminal action against her partner of three years.

The man was arraigned on Monday on charges of having caused the woman to fear violence and also causing her slight injuries.

Prosecuting Inspector Eman Hayman explained that an argument had allegedly broken out when the woman wanted to take the children for a drive, but her partner wanted to go out elsewhere. In the ensuing argument, the man allegedly hit the woman with a plunger.

Later, the woman had opened up to the police, telling them how she had allegedly been living in fear of her partner for the past 11 months, but had been too scared to file a report.

Defence lawyer Anthony Stellini countered that there was “enormous interference” by the woman’s mother and a significant age gap between the alleged victim and his client.

The lawyer further informed the court that there was the possibility of a reconciliation. “Why extinguish a glimmer of hope?” Dr Stellini continued.

A request for bail was upheld after the court was told that the man was to take up residence elsewhere and that a relative was willing to step in as third-party guarantor.

Duty magistrate Aaron Bugeja granted bail against a third-party guarantee for €5,000, an order to sign the bail book twice a week and not to lay foot in Cospicua. The court also issued a Protection Order prohibiting the man from approaching the alleged victim in any manner.