A woman who threw an ashtray at her former lover’s car after he allegedly harassed and stalked her has been conditionally discharged for six months.

The court heard how Maria Anna Camilleri, 49 from Birzebbuga, had been in a relationship with Charles Brincat for a year and a half but decided to break things off, not least because the man was married. Mr Brincat, however, was not happy with her decision and began annoying her through text messages he sent to her phone as well as to her mother and daughter. Ms Camilleri had also reported to the police that Mr Brincat was following her around, even at night.

On 13 September 2013, the woman was sitting in her balcony drinking tea and smoking a cigarette when she was Mr Brincat’s car driving along her street. Her first reaction was to grab an ashtray and throw it at the car, hitting the front passenger door. Sometime later she went to a bar, where she was Mr Brincat drinking alone and returned home. 

Mr Brincat told the court that he was driving along the road at around 11.15pm when he heard a loud bang, as if something had hit his car, and he hit some boat trailers with the side of his vehicle. He said he stopped to check if he had hit anyone and then went to a bar for a drink because he was under shock. The following day a colleague pointed out the dent on his car. 

The court found Ms Camilleri guilty by admission of damaging the car and noted that the woman was safe inside her house and should not have taken the law into her own hands. On the other hand, Magistrate Josette Demicoli said she did not believe Mr Brincat’s version that he had hit the boat trailers. He had not even realized what had happened and did not file a report.

Ms Camilleri was found guilty of damaging the car and was conditionally discharged for six months.

Inspector Carol Fabri prosecuted.