Man, 30, handed suspended sentence over breaching restraining order
He was also accused of threatening and insulting his ex-partner
A 30-year-old man was handed a one-year prison term, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to breaching a restraining order.
The man was accused on Thursday afternoon of breaching a restraining order and a set of bail conditions, as well as threatening and insulting his ex-partner.
It transpired in court that the man was first arraigned on March 10 of last year, when he admitted to charges, and a restraining order was issued in favour of his ex-partner, who is also the mother of his child.
According to the defence lawyer, the pair got back together three days after the man was first arraigned.
The man was arraigned again in November for breaching the restraining order. He denied the charges and was granted bail.
On Tuesday, the woman reported him for breaching the restraining order. Police inspector Omar Zammit told the court that the pair remained together in an on-and-off relationship.
The court remarked that the man should have known better, given that the onus was on the accused to ensure that he abided by the court order.
Defence lawyer Yanica Barbara stressed that the pair share a minor son, and every time her client sought to end the relationship, she would report him to the police for allegedly breaching the restraining order.
She added that her client provides for the child and assists in the bringing up of the woman’s daughter, who is not biologically his own.
When it was suggested that the restraining order be lifted, the defence lawyer said the alleged victim did not want this.
“The time has come for the police to investigate whether there are instigations to breach a restraining order in place,” the court said, to which the prosecution replied: “the judgements are clear”.
“The onus is on him,” the court reiterated.
The man was handed a one-year prison term, suspended for two years.
The court ordered that he forfeits €1,000 from the personal guarantee offered against being granted bail.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presided.
Police inspector Omar Zammit prosecuted.
Lawyer Yanica Barbara appeared for the accused.