The Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday converted a prison sentence, given by a magistrate’s court, to a suspended sentence, to a police sergeant who was found guilty of slightly injuring a French woman in Paceville.

The magistrates’ court, presided over by magistrate Silvio Meli, had jailed police sergeant David Sant, 46, for four months after he was found guilty of slightly injuring a French woman on 10 May in Paceville.

In the appeal, Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano ruled that the first court was fair in sentencing Sant to a four months term.

However, he added, Sant had served in the police force for 20 years in an impeccable manner, as testified by his superiors and work colleagues, who also vouched for his service record.

In handing down his judgement, Chief Justice Degaetano noted that Sant has a clean criminal record and that what happened “was totally out of character for Mr Sant”.

Chief Justice Degaetano also said that the French woman, Catherine Sophie Pernot Sprangers, had forgiven Sant, who also apologised publicly, while acknowledging the damage he caused the Police Force.