Man, 20, jailed five years and eight months for grievously injuring another man

A 20-year-old man was jailed for five years and eight months after he grievously injured another man.

Preslav Dimitrov, a Bulgarian national who lives in St Paul’s Bay, was arraigned in July and accused of causing grievous bodily harm, threatening and insulting the victim. He was also accused of instilling fear of violence.

The man was charged following a violent assault on another man who was allegedly speaking to Dimitrov’s ex-girlfriend.

During Dimitrov’s arraignment, it had emerged that the victim walked into a police station with visible facial injuries and blood on his face. He told officers he had been assaulted while speaking to a woman, Dimitrov’s former partner, near fields along Triq il-Port Ruman.

In his statement to the police, the victim said someone jumped on him from behind while he was speaking to the woman and attacked him. The man saw the aggressor and identified him as the woman's ex-boyfriend.

The victim has sustained a permanent and visible 3-centimetre scar over the right upper eyebrow as a result of the assault.

The man had pleaded not guilty at his arraignment; however, he changed his plea on December 1.

In its considerations, the court noted that the guilty plea was not entered at an early stage and that he had no previous convictions.

It also took into account the circumstances of the case, “salient among which, the fact that he had been spurred on to commit this heinous crime by his girlfriend with the intent to avenge what she had portrayed to him to be an affront to her dignity, which later transpired was all a hoax animated by her quest for retaliation against the victim”.

The court also took into consideration the pre-sentencing report prepared by the probation officer, in which it was recommended that the man be jailed in view of his violent tendencies.

The court also noted that despite Dimitrov being ordered to refrain from contacting his ex, he still maintained regular contact.

“This demonstrates the lack of respect for the court’s authority and orders and his unrelenting commitment to breaking the law,” the court said, adding that there was no room for mercy.

The court jailed him for five years and eight months.

It also ordered the police to investigate Elise Pisani, Dimitrov’s ex, to see whether she was liable to criminal proceedings for complicity in the crime, as well as for making a false declaration to the police.

A three-year treatment order was imposed on the convicted man to overcome his violent behaviour.

A three-year restraining order was issued in favour of the victim.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presided.

AG lawyer Miriyah Borg prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Warren Galea and Cheyenne Mangion.

Lawyer José Herrera appeared for the accused.