Man handed probation order after bombarding ex-partner with messages
Most messages were expressions of love, but there were also some threats
A 47-year-old man has been placed under an 18-month probation order and fined €200 after admitting to harassing his former partner through 100 messages and social media posts following the breakdown of their relationship.
The Siġġiewi man was charged with repeatedly harassing his former partner, making improper use of electronic communications and issuing insults or threats against her.
The court was told that the accused and his former partner, who shared a young child, ended their relationship in February, although they had remained intermittently involved.
The woman filed a police report on May 9 after the accused allegedly sent her around 100 WhatsApp messages.
She also reported a separate incident where several Facebook posts made by the accused featured their son and implied that the child was not eating or sleeping properly because of her.
She also recounted being told, “I didn’t kill you, because I love you.”
The woman also alleged that during an argument he had threatened her with a metal rod.
The accused, who is self-employed, immediately pleaded guilty to the charges, with the admission being confirmed by the court.
During proceedings, the prosecution emphasised that there had been three separate incidents and argued that the accused had persistently harassed the complainant. However, it also acknowledged that many of the messages centred around declarations of love towards his former partner.
The prosecution further explained that the accused had himself attempted to limit contact by blocking the woman himself, deleting Facebook, and even removing the app store from his phone to stop himself from reinstalling social media applications.
The court heard that the accused wished to conclude the separation process so both parties could “go their own way.”
The accused said that he had been intoxicated when writing the Facebook post.
The defence stated that the prosecution had fairly represented the circumstances of the case and stressed that the accused had admitted guilt from the very beginning. It pleaded that a suspended sentence would be the most appropriate punishment.
The prosecution itself requested a suspended sentence at the minimum threshold, describing the matter as an unfortunate domestic situation involving the parents of a young children.
The court sentenced the man to an 18-month probation order, imposed a €200 fine, and issued a treatment order addressing his alcohol problem.
Inspector Audrey Micallef, Legal aid lawyer Silvan Pulis represented the accused.